A MANUAL FOR ASPIRANTS 
FOR COMMISSIONS IN THE 

* UNITED STATES 

* MILITARY SERVICE 


By CAPT. IRA L. REEVES 






Class 

Book 



9 *1 


Copyright a'?. 




COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 























































A MANUAL for ASPIRANTS for 
COMMISSIONS in the UNITED 
STATES MILITARY SERVICE 


BY- „ 


IRA Lr REEVES 

Captain, U. S. Army 


REVISEDIBDITION 


FRANKLIN HUDSON PUBLISHING CO. 
KANSAS CITY, MO. 

1917 












CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Preface_ 9 

CHAPTER I. 

Introductory _u 

CHAPTER II. 

Appointments to the Army of Graduates of the United 

States Military Academy_14 

Brief History of the Academy_14 

Appointments, How Made, Date of, Alternates_16, 17, 18 

Examination and Admission of Candidates_18 

Qualifications_19 

Character of Examinations_ 20 

Academic Duties_ 34 

Physical Examination of Cadets_ 34 

Vacations and Leaves of Absence._ 34 

Pay of Cadets_ 35 

Deposit Prior to Admission_ 35 

Promotion After Graduation_ 36 

The Academic Calendar_36 

Recitation Schedule_36 

The Course of Study by Departments_ 39 - 5 ° 

Corps Organization_51 

CHAPTER III. 

Promotion of Enlisted Men_52 

Appointments in the Line _52 

Qualifications of Applicants_52 

Application for Examination___53 

Preliminary Physical Examination_53 

Preliminary Moral Character and Mental Examination_54 

Final Examination_54 

Final Physical Examination_55 

Final Moral Character and Mental Examination_55 

Examination as to Fitness for Mounted Service_56 

Appointments in the Coast Artillery -57 

Examination for Appointment in the Coast Artillery-57 
































IV 


Contents. 


PAGE 

Qualifications of Applicants_ 57 

Report of Examining Board_57 

Form for Individual Record of Candidate (for all Arms of 

the Service)_ -.58 

Specimen Questions Asked at an Examination _ 

_(See Chapter XV.) 


CHAPTER IV. 

Appointments from Civil Life_ 59 

Appointments to the Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Infantry._6o 

Examining Boards, How Constituted_60 

Those Eligible for Appointment_60 

Physical Examination_61 

Moral Character and Mental Examination_61 

Examination as to Fitness for Mounted Service_63 

Report of Examining Board_63 

Appointments to the Coast Artillery _ 64 

Applications, How Made_ 64 

Examining Board, How Constituted_ 64 

Qualifications of Candidates_64 

Examination_65-67 

Specimen Questions_(See Chapter XV.) 


CHAPTER V. 

Appointments to the Porto Rico Regiment of Infantry_68 

Boards for the Examination of Applicants_68 

Qualifications for Appointment_68 

Applications for Examination. __69 

Physical Examination_69 

Moral and Mental Examination_70 

Examination for Promotion in the Porto Rico Regiment_71 

Form for Individual Record of Candidate_71 

CHAPTER VI. 

Appointments to the Philippine Scouts_ V-73 

Examination for Appointment_73 

Examination for Promotion or Reappointment_77 

Professional Examination for Officers of the Philippine 

Scouts_78 






























Contents. 


v 


^ . . page 

Form for Individual Record of Candidate for Original 
Appointment_79 


CHAPTER VII. 

Appointment to the Grade of Third Lieutenant in the 


Philippine Constabulary_81 

Duties of Constabulary Officers_81 

Pay of Constabulary Officers_81 

Cost of Living_82 

Appointments, Leaves of Absence, Etc_ 82 

Climate_83 

Examinations and Appointments in the Constabulary_83 

Rules for Examination_86 

Description of Examinations_87 

Specimen Questions_87-91 

Physical Examination__ .92 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Commissions in Volunteer Forces Which May Hereafter 

Be Organized_94 

Act of Congress Making Provision for Eligible List_95 

Boards for the Examination of Applicants_96 

Qualifications of Applicants_97 

Applications for Examination_97 

Organization of Examining Boards_98 

The Examination_98 

Infantry_105 

Cavalry_106 

Field Artillery_106 

Coast Artillery_107 

Engineers_108 

Signal Corps_109 

Adjutant General’s Department_109 

Inspector General's Department_no 

Quartermaster Corps_no 

Ordnance Department_in 

Medical Department_112 

Judge-Advocate General’s Department-113 

Letter of Application for Examination-114 


































vi Contents. 

- CHAPTER IX. page 

A Short Talk with Newly Appointed Officers_115 

Oath of Office_115 

Reports.^__115 

Uniforms, Arms, and Equipment_116 

'Social Customs_117 

Library_117 

Performance of Duty_118 

Income and Expenditures_118 

Habits_119 

CHAPTER X. 

Enlisting for a Commission_120 

The Disciplinary Gulf_120 

Food and Clothing_120 

The Enlisted Men as a Type_121 

The Soldier’s Routine_121 

The Arms of the Service_121 

Assistance of Officers_121 

Some Pointers_122 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Enlisted Men_123 

The Enlisted Men of Our Regular Army_123 

Requirements to Enter the Service_124 

Declaration of Applicant for Enlistment_128 

Form of Consent in Case the Applicant Is a Minor___129 

Oath of Enlistment_129 

Pay and Allowances of Enlisted Men_130 

Location of General Recruiting Stations, U. S. Army_134 

CHAPTER XII. 

The Army_138 

The Military Educational System of the Army_138 

Rank and Precedence of Officers and Non-Commissioned 

Officers_ 139 

Appointments and Promotions_141 

Military Departments_141 

CHAPTER XIII. 

A Few Words from a Soldier’s Dictionary_145 

































Contents. vii 

CHAPTER XIV. pack 

Military Schools and Colleges _150 

Military Instruction_150 

Distinguished Institutions, Appointment of Honor 

Graduates_151 

Classification of Institutions_151 

List of Institutions Having Army Details_ .152 

CHAPTER XV. 

Specimen Questions_ 155 








PREFACE. 


In 1901 the writer prepared a little volume called “A Manual 
for Aspirants for Commissions in the United States Army.” It was 
well received and, it is hoped, served as an aid to many aspiring 
and ambitious young men. But the rapid changes taking place in 
the Army following the Spanish-American War soon placed this 
little work in the back-number class. An effort at revision has 
been repeatedly attempted, but lack of time has always prevented 
the completion of this work. The changes in the Service have gone 
on until now a revision would mean practically new matter through¬ 
out, and to call it a “revised edition” would be stretching the 
imagination beyond its guaranteed elasticity, so a new volume is 
here offered. 

The former book dealt with commissions in the Regular Army 
only. This one includes the Porto Rico Regiment, the Philippine 
Scouts, the Philippine Constabulary, and the “qualified list” for 
commissions in a volunteer army, should one be required to meet 
the contingency of future wars. The very latest orders covering 
the examinations for appointment in the different organizations 
here named have been sought, and it is believed the work is strictly 
up to date in all these matters. 

While there is considerable original matter, most, or at least a 
great part of it is copied from General Orders, as it is thought best 
to take the original as it comes from the Adjutant General’s office, 
rather than attempt any interpretations with the possibility of 
causing someone to make mistakes for which they could justly hold 
the writer, or compiler, responsible. 

It is desired to give credit, as sources of information in prepar¬ 
ing this book, to the following: United States Army Regulations, 
General Orders from the Adjutant General’s Office, and orders and 
circulars from the Headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary, 
Manila, P. I. 

Ira L. Reeves. 

Allerton, Mass., September, 1910. 








CHAPTER I. 


Introductory. 

“For gold the merchant plows the main, 

The farmer plows the manor; 

But glory is the soldier’s prize, 

The soldier’s wealth is honor.”— Burns. 

A young man seeking a commission in the United States Army 
is embarking upon a very creditable enterprise, and the ambition 
prompting such a step is laudable. It makes no difference which road 
is taken to arrive at the end sought, the accomplishment is difficult. 

An Army officer has no sinecure. Contrary to a popular im¬ 
pression, his life is not made up of full-dress balls, parades, revelry, 
gold-laced uniforms, and big play. No “gilded satrap” for him. 
It is true there are balls and parades, and he wears a gold-laced 
uniform—at times; but now-a-days it is the olive-drab, the leather 
leggings, the campaign hat, and the “hike.” 

In addition to an officer’s strictly military duties, there are 
long hours of preparation for his educational course and for his 
examinations for promotion. 

While drills are many and taxing, there are in addition the 
guard duties, the court-martial duties, the boards of survey, and 
many other duties calling for a diversity of knowledge and a careful 
and painstaking training. 

The pay is moderate. It compares very favorably with that 
of a profession in civil life requiring an equal amount of preparation. 

In order for an officer to succeed, his ambition must be backed 
by real patriotism. He must constantly keep before him the wel¬ 
fare of his country, the Army, his regiment, and his company. Love 
of country and esprit de corps must be his guiding stars. 

But this chapter is introductory, and must not encroach on the 
duties of one of its fellows. 

Recent years have worked great changes in the Army. The 
proportionate number of graduates of the U. S. Military Academy 
holding commissions in the Army, to the whole number, has greatly 
decreased in the face of the fact that the number graduating has 
gradually increased. This condition came about through increasing 
the Army (a direct result of the Spanish-American War), and the 

ii 



12 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

consequent increase in the number of officers, making it necessary 
to appoint many from the Army, from the Volunteers, and from 
civil life. Should there be no more wars, and the strength of the 
Army remain as it now is, the percentage of graduates will again 
increase,- and in time will return to where it was before the com¬ 
paratively recent increases in the authorized strength of the Army. 

At the present time the chances for enlisted men to secure 
appointments are good. The number offering themselves for ex¬ 
amination will always, no doubt, greatly exceed the number of 
vacancies left open for the enlisted men, but this condition leaves 
room for a weeding-out process, making it possible to select from a 
large number the best of the material offered. Chapter III. is 
devoted to the appointment of enlisted men and the rules and 
regulations governing the examinations. 

The civilian appointee has been largely in evidence since 1898, 
but the number now being appointed has dwindled into very small 
figures, and, unless legislation now pending increases the number 
of commissioned officers of the Army, the chances will remain about 
as they are at present. These appointments are, by recent policy, 
confined almost entirely to honor graduates of military schools 
having Army officers detailed as professors of military science and 
tactics. Chapter IV. deals with appointment from civil life, and 
will no doubt answer all questions arising in the mind of the reader 
who may be interested. 

The Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine Scouts open 
new avenues of service. Both offer to the young man an inter¬ 
esting experience, good remuneration, and a valuable training. As 
must be surmised, the service is confined entirely to the Philippine 
Archipelago. These appointments are covered in Chapters VI.-VII. 

The Porto Rico Regiment offers but few vacancies and these 
go to native Porto Ricans. It is a splendid regiment, doing gar¬ 
rison duty on the Island of Porto Rico. The enlisted men are 
natives and have shown remarkable aptitude for the military. 
Chapter V. deals with this regiment and the appointments in it. 

Commissions in any volunteer forces which may hereafter be 
organized can not fail to interest any American citizen. In the past 
there was no system under which officers for such a force could be 
at once designated with any assurance that the one necessary 
qualification—efficiency— had not been overlooked. It is believed 
that the system of examinations provided for by recent Act of 
Congress, and the rules and regulations published by the War De- 


United States Military Service. 13 

partment (Chapter VIII., this volume), vitalizing the Act, will 
secure an eligible list of officers for volunteer regiments, which 
would make the work of “whipping into shape” a volunteer army 
a comparatively easy task. 

Newly appointed officers will no doubt be interested in a few 
words of advice which they will find in Chapter IX. 

The matter of enlisting for a commission is treated in Chapter 
X. A young man who has the education and training necessary 
to secure a commission from the ranks will also have sufficient judg¬ 
ment to cause him to thoroughly consider the advisability of en¬ 
listing for this purpose, and will, it is hoped, gain some knowledge 
from the reading of this chapter that will aid him in arriving at 
a decision. 

All must be interested in the Enlisted Man. There could not 
be much of an Army without soldiers. The officer who is not in¬ 
terested in the soldier fails to have a proper conception of his duty. 
It is for the training and leading of soldiers that officers are created. 
The Enlisted Man, his pay and findings, are discussed in Chapter X. 

It is hardly a function of a treatise of this kind to enter into 
the almost inexhaustible subject of “The Army.” The one volume 
of Army Regulations alone is a book of nearly four hundred pages, 
and yet but very little comparatively can be gleaned from a perusal 
of its paragraphs. There are, however, a few elementary things 
which it seems necessary should find a place here. They are given 
in Chapter XII. 

In addition to the “King’s English,” the soldier has a language 
of his own—his “technical” language, if you please. While the 
use of Army slang is much more common with the enlisted man 
than with the officer, it can not but add some to a newly appointed 
officer’s military accomplishments to possess a talking knowledge 
of Army “Esperanto.” A Few Words from a Soldier's Dictionary 
(Chapter XIII.) will give a vocabulary without the grammar. 

Chapter XIV. has been added because of the recent policy of 
appointing honor graduates from institutions of learning having 
Army officers detailed as professors of military science and tactics. 
In addition to a list of these schools and their classification, other 
information is given which will be necessary to a young man seeking 
a commission by this route. 

Some specimen questions asked at recent examinations are 
given in Chapter XV. An idea of the scope of the examination 
may be obtained from these. 


14 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


CHAPTER II. 


Appointments to the Army from Graduates of the United 
States Military Academy. 

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY.-APPOINTMENTS, HOW MADE, DATE 

OF, ALTERNATES.—EXAMINATION AND ADMISSION OF CANDI¬ 
DATES, qualifications, character of examinations.—aca¬ 
demic DUTIES.-PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.-VACATIONS AND 

' LEAVES OF ABSENCE.—PAY OF CADETS.-DEPOSIT PRIOR TO AD¬ 
MISSION.-PROMOTION AFTER GRADUATION.—RECITATION SCHED¬ 
ULE.-The COURSE OF study BY DEPARTMENTS.-CORPS OR¬ 

GANIZATION.—CLASSIFICATION OF CADETS. 

“I give it as my fixed opinion that, but for our graduated ca¬ 
dets, the war between the United States and Mexico might, and 
probably would, have lasted some four or five years, with, in its first 
half, more defeats than victories falling to our share; whereas, in 
less than two campaigns, we conquered a great country and a peace, 
without the loss of a single battle or skirmish .”—Winfield Scott. 

“The education and manly training imparted to young men at 
West Point has repaid the United Sates a thousand times its cost, 
and more than verified the predictions of General Washington! 
Every cadet at West Point is an appointee of a member of Congress, 
every member having a cadet of his own nomination there, with 
only ten appointed by the President at large. The corps of cadets 
is therefore, a youthful counterpart of our national House of Rep¬ 
resentatives. The same laws, the same regulations, the same in¬ 
struction, books, clothing, and food are common to all, and a more 
democratic body never existed on earth than is the corps of cadets.” 
— W. T. Sherman. 

“This institution has completed its first hundred years of life. 
During that century no other educational institution in the land 
has contributed as many names as West Point has contributed to 
the honor-roll of the nation’s greatest citizens .”—Theodore Roosevelt. 

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY. 

To General Henry Knox, famous Artillery officer of the War 
of the Revolution, and later appointed by Congress Secretary of 
War, should be given the credit of first conceiving the idea of a 



United States Military Service. 15 

National Military Academy for the education of officers for the 
permanent military establishment. 

He, no doubt, observed from the very beginning of the War of 
Independence the necessity for trained engineers and artillerists 
in the patriot Army. This necessity was, in a measure, supplied 
by foreigners, chiefly Frenchmen. He proposed a plan to establish 
a Military Academy with a fixed home, where pupils (cadets) would 
be educated chiefly in the theory of war, leaving the practice to be 
gained in active service. He made a report to a committee of Con¬ 
gress on the 27th of September, 1776, in which he advocated an 
Academy “nearly on the same plan as that of Woolwich” (school 
for candidates for the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery, Wool¬ 
wich, England). These views were afterward supported by Alex¬ 
ander Hamilton and approved by Washington. The plan, however, 
was not carried out until 1802, when the United States Military 
Academy was established at West Point, N. Y., by Act of Congress, 
approved March 16, 1802. This Act authorized the President to 
organize and establish a Corps of Engineers, to consist of five officers 
and ten cadets, to be stationed at West Point. The Academy, with 
ten cadets present, was formally opened on July 4, 1802. 

Other Acts, in 1802 and 1808, authorized 40 cadets from the 
Artillery, 100 from the Infantry, 16 from the Dragoons, and 20 from 
the Riflemen. But few of these were appointed, and no provision 
was made for them at the Academy. 

In 1810 the Academy was deprived of nearly all means of 
instruction, and officers and cadets had difficulty in obtaining 
their pay. 

During the greater part of 1811 and a part of 1812 instruction 
was practically abandoned. In March of the latter year there was 
not a single instructor. Up to and including this time, however, 
there had been eighty-eight graduated. They had entered from all 
ages from twelve to thirty-four years, without mental or physical 
examination, and at any time of the year. 

The Academy was reorganized by Act of Congress of April 29, 
1812, and the provisions of this Act have furnished the general 
principles on which the Academy has since been conducted. It 
authorized a more adequate corps of professors and established a 
maximum of 250 cadets. It also prescribed an age limit and cer¬ 
tain mental qualifications. The present era in the Academy’s 
history really began under the able superintendency of Major 
Sylvanus Thayer, Corps of Engineers, in 1817. 


16 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

It was not until 1843 that a prescribed residence was a legal 
qualification for entrance, but the custom had grown of selecting 
one cadet from each Congressional district, and in this year it was 
made a law. In addition to allotting one cadet from each Congres¬ 
sional district, one from each Territory, one from the District of Co¬ 
lumbia, ten from the United States at large, to be appointed by 
the President, was authorized at the same time. Subsequent acts 
have increased the authorized number of appointments, but these 
are noted later in this chapter. 

The total number of graduated cadets to date is a little above 
6,000. 

The heads of the scientific departments (Mathematics, etc.), 
are permanent; and of the professional, such as Ordnance, Cavalry, 
are detailed for terms of four years from officers of the Army. The 
instructors in all departments are Army officers, usually lieuten¬ 
ants, detailed for this purpose, and number about one instructor 
to ten cadets. 

The instruction is thorough. A “mark” is given for each 
recitation, and the sum of a cadet’s “marks” determines his stand¬ 
ing in his class, and upon this standing his first promotion to the 
Army is based. 

On graduation, the upper men of each class are usually as¬ 
signed to the Engineers, the next to the Artillery, and then to the 
Cavalry and Infantry, in the order named. 

The body of students at the Academy is known as the “ United 
States Corps of Cadets,” and constitutes an independent command. 
The cadets are a part of the Army, but are not commissioned offi¬ 
cers. They rank next below veterinarians, and take precedence 
over all non-commissioned officers of the Regular Army. 

The average attendance for the past five years has been 459; 
the authorized number is 523. 

Communications relating to matters connected with the Mili¬ 
tary Academy should be addressed to the Adjutant General of the 
Army, Washington, D. C. Information as to appointments, ex¬ 
aminations, vacancies, etc., can always be had by applying to his 
office. The latest information, at date of this publication, is as 
follows: 

APPOINTMENTS. 

HOW MADE. 

Each Congressional district and Territory and Porto Rico is 
entitled to have two cadets at the Academy, the District of Co- 


United States Military Service. 17 

lumbia four. Each State is also entitled to have four cadets from 
the State at large, and eighty are allowed from the United States 
at large. The appointments from a Congressional district are made 
upon the recommendation of the representative in Congress from 
that district, and those from a State at large upon the recommenda¬ 
tions of the senators of the State. Similarly the appointments from 
a Territory are made upon the recommendation of the delegate in 
Congress. The appointments from the District of Columbia are 
made on the recommendation of the Commissioners of the District. 
Each person appointed must be an actual resident of the State, 
District, or Territory from which the appointment is made. 

The appointments from the United States at large are made 
by the President of the United States upon his own selection. The 
cadets from Porto Rico, who must be natives of that island, are 
appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Resident 
Commissioner. 

The Secretary of War is authorized to permit not exceeding 
four Filipinos, to be designated, one for each class, by the Philippine 
Commission, to receive instruction at the United States Military 
Academy at West Point: Provided, That the Filipinos undergoing 
instruction shall receive the same pay, allowances, and emoluments 
as are authorized by law for cadets at the Military Academy ap¬ 
pointed from the United States, to be paid out of the same appro¬ 
priations: And provided further, That said Filipinos undergoing 
instruction on graduation shall be eligible only to commissions in 
the Philippine Scouts. And the provisions of Section 1321, Revised 
Statutes, are modified in the case of the Filipinos undergoing in¬ 
struction, so as to require them to engage to serve for eight years, 
unless sooner discharged, in the Philippine Scouts. 

DATE OF APPOINTMENTS. 

Appointments are required by law to be made one year in ad¬ 
vance of the date of admission, except in cases where, by reason of 
death or other cause, a vacancy occurs which can not be provided 
for by such appointment in advance. These vacancies are filled in 
time for the next examination. 

ALTERNATES. 

For each candidate appointed there should be nominated two 
alternates. The principal and each alternate will receive from the 
War Department a letter of appointment, and must appear for ex- 


18 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

amination at the time and place therein designated.* The fitness 
for admission to the Academy of the principal and the alternates 
will be determined as prescribed in paragraphs 19 and 20, Regula¬ 
tions United States Military Academy. If the principal fails to 
qualify, either mentally or physically, then the qualifications of the 
alternates will be considered, and if only one has met the require¬ 
ments, he will be admitted; if both alternates have met the require¬ 
ments, the better qualified will be admitted. The alternates, like 
the principal, should be designated one year in advance of the date 
of admission. 

EXAMINATION AND ADMISSION OF CANDIDATES. 

The following are extracts from the Regulations of the Military 
Academy relating to the examination of candidates for admission, 
and will be strictly adhered to: 

“64. On the third Tuesday in March of each year candi¬ 
dates selected for appointment shall appear for mental and physical 
examination before boards of Army officers toJ>e convened at such 
places as the War Department may designate. The Filipino candi¬ 
dates selected for appointment, unless otherwise notified by the 
War Department, shall appear for mental and physical examina¬ 
tion on the second Tuesday in January of each year before a board 
of Army officers to be convened at such place in the Philippine 
Islands as the Commanding General of the Philippine Division may 
designate. Candidates who pass will be admitted to the Academy 
without further examination upon reporting in person to the Super¬ 
intendent before 12 o’clock noon on the twelfth day of June of 
the same year. 

“65. Each candidate, before admission to the Academy, must 
show by examination, as prescribed in paragraph 64, that he is well 
versed in algebra, to include quadratic equations and progressions, 
plane geometry, English grammar, composition and literature, de¬ 
scriptive and physical geography, and general and United States 
history, as explained in the circulars of notification. No rejected 
candidate shall be re-examined, except upon recommendation of 
the Academic Board. 


*The board before which a candidate is directed to appear will be, with¬ 
out exception, the one convened at the place nearest or most convenient to his 
home, or to the school at which he is in regular attendance at the time of 
appointment. 




United States Military Service. 19 

“69. Immediately after reporting to the Superintendent for 
admission, and before receiving his warrant of appointment, the 
candidate is required to sign an engagement for service in the fol¬ 
lowing form, and in the presence of the Superintendent, or of some 
officer deputed by him: 

“‘I*-- of the State (or Territory) of_, aged 

-years-months, do hereby engage (with the consent 

of my parent or guardian) that, from the date of my admission as a 
cadet of the United States Military Academy, I will serve in the 
Army of the United States for eight years,unless sooner discharged 
by competent authority. 

“ ‘In the presence of__’ 

[In the case of Filipino cadets the engagement shall be made 
to serve in the Philippine Scouts. (Sec. 1321, R. S.)] 

“The candidate is then required to take and subscribe an oath 
or affirmation in the following form: 

“‘I, --- do solemnly swear that I will support the 

.Constitution of the United States, and bear true allegiance to the 
national Government; that I will maintain and defend the sover¬ 
eignty of the United States, paramount to any and all allegiance, 
sovereignty, or fealty I may owe to any State or country whatsoever; 
and that I will at all times obey the legal orders of my superior offi¬ 
cers, and the rules and articles governing the armies of the United 
States. 

“‘Sworn and subscribed, at_, this_day of__ 

nineteen hundred and_, before me. 


QUALIFICATIONS. 

No candidate shall be admitted who is under seventeen or over 
twenty-two years of age, or less than five feet four inches in height 
at the age of seventeen, or five feet five inches in height at the age 
of eighteen and upward, or who is deformed, afflicted with any 
disease or infirmity which would render him unfit for the military 
service, or who has, at the time of presenting himself, any disorder 
of an infectious or immoral character. Candidates must be un¬ 
married. 

Bach candidate must, on reporting at West Point, present a 
certificate showing successful vaccination within one year, or a cer¬ 
tificate of two vaccinations, made at least a month apart, within 
three months. 












20 Aspirants for Commissions in ike 

Note.—C andidates are eligible for admission from the day 
they are seventeen until the day they become twenty-two years of 
age, on which latter day they are not eligible. 

It is suggested to all candidates for admission to the Military 
Academy that, before leaving their places of residence for the place 
of examination, they should cause themselves to be thoroughly ex¬ 
amined by a competent physician, and by a teacher or instructor in 
good standing. By such examinations any serious physical dis¬ 
qualification or deficiency in mental preparation would be revealed. 

It should be understood that the informal examination herein 
recommended is solely for the convenience and benefit of the can¬ 
didate himself, and can in no manner affect the decision of the 
Academic and Medical Examining Boards. 

CHARACTER OF EXAMINATIONS. 
the physical Examination. 

Upon the completion of the mental examination, all candidates 
will be thoroughly examined physically by the medical officers of 
the board, under the following instructions prepared by the Surgeon 
General of the Army: 

Hearing must be normal in both ears. 

Vision, as determined by the official test types, must not fall 
below 20—40 in either eye and not below 20—20, unless the defect 
is a simple refractive error (not hyperopia), is not due to ocular 
disease, and entirely corrected by proper glasses. 

In the record of all examinations, the acuity of vision without 
glasses, and also with glasses when the acuity is less than 20—20, 
will be given for each eye separately; in the latter case the correction 
will also be noted. 

Hyperopia requiring any spherical correction, anisometropia, 
squint, or muscular insufficiency, if marked, are causes for rejection. 

Color-blindness, red, green, or violet, is cause for rejection. 

The following are causes of disqualification if found to exist to 
such a degree as would immediately or at no very distant period 
impair the efficiency of the candidate: 

1. Feeble constitution; unsound health from whatever cause; 
indications of former disease, glandular swellings, or other symptoms 
of scrofula. 

2. Chronic cutaneous affections, especially of the scalp. 

3. Severe injuries of the bones of the head; convulsions. 

4. Impaired vision, from whatever cause; inflammatory affec- 


United States Military Service. 21 

tions of the eyelids; immobility or irregularity of the iris; fistula 
lachrymalis, etc., etc. 

5. Deafness; copious discharge from the ears. 

6. Loss of many teeth, or the teeth generally unsound. 

7. Impediment of speech. 

8. Want of due capacity of the chest, and any other indica¬ 
tion of a liability to a pulmonic disease. 

9. Impaired or inadequate efficiency of one of both of the 
superior extremities on account of fractures, especially of the 
clavicle; contraction of a joint, deformity, etc. 

10. An unusual excurvature or incurvature of the spine. 

11. Hernia. 

12. A varicose state of the veins of the scrotum or spermatic 
cord (when large), hydrocele, hemorrhoids, fistulas. 

13. Impaired or inadequate efficiency of one or both of the 
inferior extremities on account of varicose veins, fractures, malform¬ 
ation (flat feet, etc.), lameness, contraction, unequal length, bunions, 
overlying or supernumerary toes, etc., etc. 

14. Ulcers, or unsound cicatrices of ulcers likely to break 
out afresh. 

The requirements of the following tables of physical proportions 
are minimum for growing youths and for the guidance of medical 
officers in connection with the other data of the examination, a 
consideration of all of which should determine the candidate's phys¬ 
ical eligibility. Mere fulfillment of the requirements of the standard 
tables does not determine eligibility, while on the other hand no 
departure below the standard should be allowed unless upon the 
unanimous recommendation of the medical examining board for 
excellent reasons clearly stated in each case. 

The physical requirements should be those of the age at the 
birthday nearest the time of the examination. Fractions greater 
than 'A inch will be considered as an additional inch of height, but 
candidates seventeen years old must be at least 64 inches, and those 
eighteen years and upward at least. 65 inches in height. 


22 


Aspirants for Commissions in. the 


table of physical proportions for height, weight, and chest 

MEASUREMENT. 


Age. 

Height. 

Inches. 

Weigh t. 
Pounds. 

Chest 

Measurement— 

Expiration. 

Inches. 

Chest"Mobility. 

Inches. 

( 

64 

110 

29 

2 


65 

112 

29 % 

2 


66 

114 

29 % 

2 

17 years 

67 

116 

29 % 

2 


68 

119 

30 

2 % 


69 

122 

30 % 

2 % 


70 

125 

30 % 

2 % 

t 

71 

128 

30 % 

2 % 


65 

121 

30 % 

2 


66 

123 

31 

2 


67 

125 

31 % 

2 


68 

129 

31J^ 

2^ 

19 years < 

69 

133 

31 % 

2H 


70 

137 

32 

2H 


71 

141 

32M 

2H 


72 

145 

32*4 

2 % 

# 

73 

149 

32 % 

3 





3 


65 

123 

31 % 

2 


66 

125 

31 % 

2 


67 

127 

31 % 

2 


68 

132 

32 

2 % 


69 

137 

32 % 

2 % 

21 years • 

70 

142 

32 % 

2 % 


71 

147 

32 % 

2 % 


72 

152 

33 

3 


73 

157 

33 % 

3 


74 

162 

33 % 

3 % 


75 

167 

33 % 

3 % 


Age. 

Height. 

Inches. 

Weight. 

Pounds. 

Chest 

M easurement— 

Expiration. 

Inches. 

Chest Mobility. 
Inches. 

18 years 

65 

66 

67 

68 

69 

70 

71 
' 72 

117 

119 

121 

124 

127 

130 

133 

136 

30 % 

30 % 

30 % 

31 

31 % 

31 % 

31 % 

32 

2 

2 

2 

2 % 

2 % 

2 % 

2 % 

3 

20 years 

65 

66 

67 

68 

69 

70 

71 

72 

73 

74 

122 

124 

126 

130 

134 

138 

142 

146 

150 

154 

31 

31 % 

31 % 

31 % 

32 

32 % 

32 % 

32 % 

33 

33 % 

2 

2 

2 

2 % 

2 % 

2 % 

2 %. 

3 

3 

3 % 


65 

125 

31 % 

2 


66 

127 

31 % 

2 


67 

129 

32 

2 ■ 


68 

134 

32 % 

2 % 


69 

139 

32 % 

2 % 


70 

144 

32 % 

2 % 

22 years j 

71 

149 

33 

2 % 


72 

154 

33 % 

3 


73 

159 

33 % 

3 


74 

164 

33 % 

3 % 

1 

75 

169 

34 

3 % 

l 

76 

174 

34 % 

4 


MENTAL EXAMINATION. 

Algebra. 

Candidates will be required to pass a satisfactory examination 
in that portion of algebra which includes the following range of 
subjects: Definitions and notation; the fundamental laws; the 


















































United States Military Service. 23 

fundamental operations, viz.: addition, subtraction, multiplication, 
and division; factoring; highest common factor; lowest common 
multiple; fractions, simple and complex; simple, or linear, equa¬ 
tions with one unknown quantity; simultaneous simple, or linear, 
equations with two or more unknown quantities; involution, in¬ 
cluding the formation of the squares and cubes of polynomials; 
binomial theorem with positive integral exponents; evolution, in¬ 
cluding the extraction of the square and cube roots of polynomials 
and of numbers; theory of exponents; radicals, including reduction 
and fundamental operations, rationalization, equations involving 
radicals, operations with imaginary numbers, quadratic equations; 
equations of quadratic form; simultaneous quadratic equations; 
ratio and proportion; arithmetical and geometrical progressions. 
Candidates will be required to solve problems involving any of the 
principles or methods contained in the foregoing subjects. 

The following questions were used at a recent examination: 

Substitute y + 3 for # in x 4 — x? + 2# 2 — 3 and arrange the re¬ 
sult in descending powers of y. # 

On the eve of a battle one army had 5 men to every 6 men in 
the other. The first army lost 14,000 men and the second 6,000 
men. The first army then had 2 men to every 3 men in the other. 
How many men were there originally in each army? 

.18#— .05 

Solve 1.2# —- = . 4# + 8 .9. 

.5 

Find the lowest common multiple of 1 — #, # 2 —1, #— 2 , and 

# 2 — 4 . * _ _ 

Solve V# + 9 = 2V#—3. 

Solve (2#—3) = 8 # 2 . 

Expand (m — 3 /4 — m*/z) A by the Binomial Theorem. 

Find all the values of a for which the roots of ax 2 + 2 (a + 3) # 
+ 16 = 0 are equal. 

# + y x — y # + y x — y 

Solve-— —-- 8 and-1-- 11. 

2 3 3 4 

Solve # 2 — 4 y 2 = 9, #y + 2y 2 = 3. 

A certain article of consumption is subject to a duty of $ 1.50 
per cwt. In consequence of a reduction in duty the consumption 
increases one-half, but the revenue falls off one-third. Find the 
duty per cwt. after the reduction. 









24 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

A and B run a mile. First, A gives B a start of 44 yards and 
beats him by 51 seconds; at the second heat, A gives B a start of 1 
minute and 15 seconds and is beaten by 88 yards. Find the time 
in which A and B can run a mile separately. 

Sum to infinity the progression 3 + 2 + 4 /3. 

A servant agrees for certain wages the first month, on the un¬ 
derstanding that they are to be raised a dollar every subsequent 
month until they reach $60 a month. At the end of the first of the 
months for which he receives $60 he finds that his wages during 
his time of service have averaged $48 per month. How long has 
he served? 

Plane Geometry. 

Candidates will be required to give accurate definitions of the 
terms used in plane geometry, to demonstrate any proposition of 
plane geometry as given in the ordinary text-books, and to solve 
simple geometrical problems, either by a construction or by an 
application of algebra. 

The following questions were used at a recent examination: 

Define the following: 

i°. Rhombus. 2 0 . A mean proportional. 3 0 . Similar tri¬ 
angles. 4 0 . A segment of a circle. 5 0 . The apothem of 
a regular polygon. 

Theorem: The perpendicular is the shortest line between 
a point and a straight line. 

Theorem: In the same circle or equal circles, the less of 
two chords is at the greater distance from the center; 
conversely, the chord at the greater distance from the 
center is the less. 

Construction: Divide a given straight line internally in 
extreme and mean ratio. 

Theorem: The areas of two triangles which have an angle 
of one equal to the angle of the other are to each other 
as the products of the sides including those angles. 

Problem: Given a circle of unit diameter and the side of 
a regular inscribed polygon, find the side of a regular 
inscribed polygon of double the number of sides. 

Theorem: The four bisectors of the four angles of a quad¬ 
rilateral form a second quadrilateral, the opposite angles 
of which are supplementary. 



United States Military Service. 25 

Theorem: If on the diameter of a circle two points be 
taken equally distant from the center, the sum of the 
squares of the distances of any point of the circumference 
from these two points is constant. 

Problem: Find the locus of the point of intersection of 
the three altitudes of a triangle, given a fixed base, and 
constant angle at the vertex. 

English Grammar. 

Candidates must have a good knowledge of English grammar; 
they must be able to define the terms used therein; to define the 
parts of speech; to give inflections, including declension, conjuga¬ 
tion, and comparison; to give the corresponding masculine and fem¬ 
inine gender nouns; to give and apply the ordinary rules of syntax. 

They must be able to parse correctly any ordinary sentence; 
giving the subject of each verb, the governing word of each object¬ 
ive case, the word for which each pronoun stands or to which it 
refers, the words between which each preposition shows the relation, 
precisely what each conjunction and each relative pronoun connects, 
what each adjective and adverb qualifies or limits, the construction 
of each infinitive, and generally to show a good knowledge of the 
function of each word in the sentence. 

They must be able to correct in sentences or extracts any 
ordinary grammatical errors. 

It is not required that any particular text-book shall be fol¬ 
lowed; but the definitions, parsing, and corrections must be in 
accordance with good usage and common sense. 

The examination may include questions similar to the following: 

1. Define and give example of: a. infinitive; b. indirect ob¬ 
ject; c. simple sentence. 

2. Give the principal parts of: a. choose; b. crow; c. freeze; 
d. fly; e. burst. 

3. (i) Give the plurals of: a. motto; b. fairy; c. money; 

d. belief; e. axis, (ii) Indicate which of the fol¬ 
lowing words are singular, which are plural, and 
which may be either: a. cherubim; b. mathemat¬ 
ics; c. species; d. basis; e. news. 

4. (i) Give the feminine of: a. hero; b. gander; c. duke; 

d. priest; e. Englishman, (ii) Indicate the gender 
of: a. songster; b. spinster; c. goose; d. mouse; 

e. book. 


26 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


5.. (i) Give the possessive case singular of: a. it; b. princes; 

c. kings of Italy; d. Henry the Fourth; e. man- 
of-war. (ii) Give the possessive case plural of: 
a. brother-in-law; b. Jones; c. I; d. who; e. Mus¬ 
sulman. 


6. Give the comparison of: a. mournful; b. little; c. great; 
d. old; e. angry. 


7. Parse the italicized words in the following sentence: Other 
things being equal, it is obvious that the writer who has most words 
to choose from is most likely to find in his assortment just the word 
which he needs at a given moment. 


8. Correct all errors in the following sentences: Of words in 
braces | j draw a line through the incorrect word or words. 

J y° ur 1 

1. Have either of you brought •! their f umbrellas? 

I his J 

2. The river had overflown its banks. 


3. John thinks he | j be able to some and that 

James | ^^11 } come a l so - 

4. Men are in the plural number, because they mean more 

than one. 


5. That is neither a squirrel or rabbit’s track. 

6. I believe he don’t know its here. 

7. Him dying at this time led to the attempt being 

given up. 


English Composition and English Literature. 

Candidates will be required: 

1. By the writing of short themes on subjects chosen by them¬ 
selves within limits set by the examination paper, to prove (a) their 
ability to spell, capitalize, and punctuate, and (6) their mastery of 
the elementary principles of composition, including paragraphing 
and sentence-structure. 

2. To give evidence of intelligent acquaintance with three 
plays of Shakespeare: one comedy, one history, and one tragedy— 



United States Military Service. 


“The Merchant of Venice,” “Henry V.,” and “Macbeth” being es¬ 
pecially recommended. 

3 - To exhibit a fair knowledge of the names of the most 
prominent English and American authors and of the names of their 
principal works. 


The general character and scope of the examination are in¬ 
dicated by the following specimen: 

A. Write a composition of about two hundred and fifty words, 
on each of four subjects selected from the following list: 
(Of two or more subjects in braces, choose but one.) 

The Story of the Three Caskets in “The Merchant 

i. of Venice.” 

A Character Sketch of Antonio- 


2. 


3 - 


4 - 


( The Influences that Caused Macbeth’s Moral Down¬ 
fall. 

The Story of Macduff. 

The English Army at Agincourt (in “Henry V.”). 

A Brief Narrative of the Historical Events of 
“Henry V.” Previous to Agincourt. 

A Description of a Building., 

A Character Sketch of a Dog. 

A Narrative of an Interesting Journey. 

Reasons for Liking a Favorite Book. 

How to Make a Squirrel-trap, (or a Kite, or an Ice¬ 
boat, etc.). 


B. i. What author wrote: “The Ancient Mariner”? “Co- 
mus”? “The Marble Faun”? “Rasselas”? “Bar¬ 
bara Frietchie”? 


2. Name two works'of each of the following authors: Gold¬ 

smith, Emerson, Burke, Macaulay. 

3. Give the names- of two principal works of a great Ameri¬ 

can novelist; a great English Puritan poet of the seven¬ 
teenth century; an English woman novelist of the last 
century; a living American novelist. 


Geography. 

Candidates will be required to pass a satisfactory examination 
in descriptive geography and the elements of physical geography. 





28 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

A preponderance of weight is attached to a knowledge of the 
geography of the United States. 

In descriptive geography of the United States, candidates 
should be thoroughly informed as to its general features and bound¬ 
aries; adjacent oceans, seas, bays, gulfs, sounds, straits, and islands; 
lakes, the location and extent of mountain ranges; the sources, di¬ 
rections, and terminations of the important rivers, the names of 
their principal tributaries, and at what points, if any, these rivers 
break through highlands on their way to the ocean; the water routes 
of communication from one part of the country to another; the lo¬ 
cation and termination of important railroad lines; the boundaries 
of the several States and Territories, and their order along the coasts, 
frontiers, and principal rivers; the locations and boundaries of the 
island possessions; ahd the names and locations of the capitals and 
other important cities of the several States, Territories, and island 
possessions. 

In short, the knowledge should be so complete that a clear 
mental picture of the whole of the United States is impressed on the 
mind of the candidate. 

In descriptive geography of other countries, candidates should 
be familiar with the continental areas and grand divisions of water; 
the earth’s surface; the large bodies of water which in part or wholly 
surround the grand divisions of the land; the capes, from what parts 
they project, and into what waters; the principal peninsulas, loca¬ 
tion, and by what waters embraced; the parts connected by an 
isthmus; the principal islands, location, and surrounding waters; 
the seas, gulfs, and bays, the coasts they indent, and the waters to 
which they are subordinate; the straits, the lands they separate, 
and the waters they connect; the location of the principal lakes; 
the locations, boundaries, capitals, and principal cities of the political 
divisions of the world. 

In physical geography, candidates should be familiar with the 
relief of the earth’s surface; the principal mountain systems, the 
river systems, and water-sheds; the coastal and lake plains; and 
the influence of climate, soil, mineral deposits, and other physical 
features on the.resources, industries, commercial relations, and de¬ 
velopment of a country and its people, especially of the United 
States. 

The following questions were used at a recent examination: 
i. Name the bodies of water surrounding Europe. 


United States Military Service. 29 

2. Where is: 1. Cape St. Vincent, 2. Cape Corrientes, 3. Cape 

Matapan, 4. Cape Lopez, 5. Cape Comorin, 6. Cape York? 

3. Name in order the political divisions of South America 

which border on the Pacific Ocean and the capital of each. 

4. Locate definitely the following islands: 1. Mauritius, 

2. Tasmania, 3. Formosa, 4. New Zealand, 5. Madeira, 

6. Falkland. To what country does each belong? 

5. Where are the gulfs of: 1. Bothnia, 2. Guinea, 3. Paria, 

4. Salonica, 5. Pechili? 

6 What lands are separated and what waters connected by: 
1. Torres Strait, 2. Hudson Strait, 3. Strait of Malacca? 

7. Bound Italy; name its capital, largest river, and principal 

mountain range. 

8. Locate definitely the following cities: 1. Vienna, 2. Nan¬ 

kin, 3. Cork, 4. Tunis, 5. Montevideo, 6. Batavia, 7. 
Suez, 8. Pretoria. 

9. Name in order the waters traversed in sailing from Liver¬ 

pool, England, to Hongkong, China. 

10. A considerable portion of the boundary line of the United 

States is along what parallel? 

11. Locate definitely the following: 1. Flathead Lake, 2. Sa¬ 

bine Pass, 3. Black Hills, 4. Sebago Lake, 5. Cape Look¬ 
out, 6. Montauk Point, 7. Wichita Mountains, 8. Ling- 
ay en Bay. 

12. The meridian of Minneapolis passes through what States? 

13. Name the principal rivers that drain Pennsylvania; where 

do they rise, at what points do they leave the State and 
at what points, if any, do they break through highlands? 

14. Name all the waters traversed in going by the two com¬ 

mercial water routes from Duluth to the Atlantic Ocean. 

15. Name the principal ranges of mountains crossed in going 

by rail from New York to San Francisco; state the rail 
route assumed to be traveled 

16. Bound precisely the following States and Territories: 

1. Montana, 2. Arizona, 3. Arkansas, 4. Wisconsin, 

5. Pennsylvania, 6. Georgia. (In bounding, all contig¬ 
uous States must be mentioned, as well as rivers, mount¬ 
ain ranges, etc.) 

17. Name the States west of the Mississippi River, drained 

wholly or in part by it or its tributaries, and give the 
capital of each. 


30 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

18. Locate accurately the following cities: i. Austin, 2. Pen¬ 
sacola, 3. Asheville, 4. Winchester, 5. Allegheny, 6. Ilo¬ 
ilo, 7. Oswego, 8. Pasadena, 9. Guthrie, 10. Detroit. 

19. Going by water from New Orleans, La., to Pittsburg, Pa., 
what States would you pass on the left? 

20. How many large islands are there in the Hawaiian group? 
Which is the largest? Which is the most important? 

21. Going westward on the 35th parallel of north latitude, 
from near Newberne, N. C., what States and large rivers 
would be crossed? 

22. Describe the chief mountain system of the eastern hemi¬ 
sphere, and state what island chains of Asia abound in 
volcanos. 

23. What are the great river systems of South America? 
Where are the principal coastal plains? 

24. What are the qualifications of a good harbor? Name 
three of the best harbors on the Atlantic Coast; one on 
the Pacific Coast. 

25. What has made the Middle Atlantic States the principal 
commercial section of the United States? 

History. 

Candidates must be thoroughly familiar with so much of the 
history of the United States, and of ancient Greece and Rome, as is 
contained in good high school text-books on these subjects, and must 
have a good knowledge of the important facts in general ancient 
history and in the history of medieval Europe to the end of the 
fifteenth century. 

In history of the United States, the examination will include 
questions concerning early discoveries and* settlements; the forms 
of government in the Colonies; the causes, leading events, and re¬ 
sults of wars; important events in the political and economic history 
of the nation since its foundation; and the elementary principles of 
civil government, with special reference to the Federal Congress, 
executive, and judiciary. 

In ancient history, the examination will include questions on 
important persons and events in the legendary and authentic history 
of Greece and Rome, and on general important facts in the history 
of other ancient peoples, taking some account also of Greek art, of 
Greek and Roman literature, and especially of Roman government. 

In history of medieval Europe, the greater emphasis will be 


United States Military Service. 31 

laid on the period from Charlemagne to the end of the Middle Ages, 
particularly on events connected with the political and social devel¬ 
opment of England. 

Questions similar to the following in character and scope are 
likely to be asked: 

1. What explorations or discoveries did each of the following- 

named persons make? Give the date in each case. 
a. Narvaez, b. Coronado, c. Marquette, d. La Salle. 

2. Name three Colonies that were founded for religious rea¬ 

sons, and give the sect or denomination by which each 
was colonized. 

3. Who were the Pilgrims? Explain the difference between 

“Pilgrim” and “Puritan.” 

4. When, and under what circumstances, was Delaware sep¬ 

arated from Pennsylvania? 

5. Give an account of Bacon’s Rebellion. 

6. When and where did each of the following events occur? 

a. Meeting of the first Colonial Congress; b. Burgoyne’s 
surrender; c. Arnold’s treason. 

7. Name some important results of each of the following bat¬ 

tles of the Revolutionary War: a. Long Island, b. Tren¬ 
ton, c. Brandywine. 

8. Name four additions to the territory of the United States 

since the Revolutionary War, and give the way each 
has been acquired. 

9. Bound the territory of the United States at the close of 

the Revolutionary War. 

10. What was the “Massacre of Wyoming”? 

11. When, where, and for what purpose, did the Constitutional 

Convention meet? What resulted from its deliberations? 

12. What was the “Whiskey Insurrection”? 

13. What were the “Alien and Seditiop” laws? What was 

their effect? 

14. When and where was the last battle of the War of 1812 

fought? Name the commanders on each side. 

15. What were the two principal political parties in i860? 

Their candidates for the Presidency? Their leading 
doctrines on the slavery question? Parties. Candi¬ 
dates. Principles. 

16. With what foreign nations had the United States un¬ 

friendly relations during and at the close of the Civil 
War? Give the cause in each case. 


>o VO 


32 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

17. Name, with date, three important military events of 1865. 

18. What Vice-Presidents have become President? Name the 

predecessor in each case. 

19. Give an account of the "Yirginius"’ affair. 

20. In what war were the following battles fought? What 

were the opposing forces? Which side won? a. Ti- 
conderoga; b. Monterey; c. Saratoga; d. Stony Point; 
e. Spottsylvania; /. Lundy’s Lane. 

21. By what authority could Lincoln proclaim the emancipa¬ 

tion of the slaves? What States were immediately af¬ 
fected by the Emancipation Proclamation? How was 
emancipation legally completed later? 

22. How may the Constitution of the United States be amend¬ 

ed? Name two important Constitutional amendments. 

23. Name three offices in the Cabinet of the President of the 

United States, and state the chief duties that belong to 
each. 

24. Explain, as briefly as possible, how a minority of actual 

votes might defeat a majority at a Presidential election. 

25. Define Electoral College; Spoils System; Primary; Su¬ 

preme Court. 

1. Into what general periods is the history of Egypt divided? 

What did Egypt contribute to Greek civilization? 

2. Name one of the great kings of Assyria. Mention two 

important facts concerning the city of Nineveh. 

3- Mention the principal events of the reign of Darius I., and 
the most noteworthy feature of his government. Of 
what nation was he ruler? 

4- Mention three important facts in connection with the Phoe¬ 
nicians as traders and colonizers in the West. 

Who were: Agamemnon? Achilles? Hercules? Homer? 
. Mention two ways in which the physical geography of 
Greece influenced the national life and character. 

7 - What was the nature of the government of Athens after 
the expulsion of the Tyrants? 

8. Name four great battles of the Graeco-Persian War, and 
give the date of any two of them. 

5. What States were the leaders in the great war between the 
States of Greece? What caused the war? What were 
its chief results? 





33 


United States Military Service. 

10. Outline the career of conquest of Alexander the Great. 

About when did he die? How would his undertaking 
have been more difficult if he had turned west instead 
of east? 

11. In Greek history, what is the significance of the following 

names and phrases: Aristides? The Olympian Games? 
Solon? The Confederacy of Delos? Delphi? Sopho¬ 
cles? Praxiteles? 

12. Give the main points in the Greek colonial system. How 

did the Roman colonial system differ most conspicuously 
from the Greek? 

13. Give the titles of the principal officers of the Roman Re¬ 

public and describe their functions. 

14. What were the Punic Wars? How many in number? 

Name two great generals on each side. 

15. Mention four causes that led to the fall erf the Roman Re¬ 

public. Discuss briefly the operation of two of them 
toward this result. 

16. Why did the emperors persecute the Christians? State 

the attitude of Diocletian and Constantine, respectively, 
toward the Christians. 

17. For what is each of the following emperors most famous: 

Marcus Aurelius? Justinian? Nero? 

18. In Roman history, what was the significance of: The 

Gracchi? Horace? The Comitia Curiata? Yerres? 
The battle of Chalons? A Pyrrhian victory? JEneas? 
Alaric? 

19. What do the following dates mean to you: 800? 1066? 

1215? 1453? 

20. "What do you know of Joan of Arc? 

21. How did the Feudal System originate? Define "suzerain,” 

"vassal,” "serf.” 

22. What was the Renaissance? By what inventions and dis¬ 

coveries was it quickened? Through what channel was 
ancient science transmitted to modern times? 

23. Who was Simon de Montfort? 

24. What changes took place in the condition of the English 

peasantry in the fourteenth century? Due to what 
causes? 


34 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

25. Toward the close of the fifteenth century in England was 
the power of Parliament becoming greater or less than 
it had been previously? By what right was Henry IV. 
King of England? What was the earliest form of Par¬ 
liamentary assembly in English history? 

ACADEMIC DUTIES. 

The academic duties of new cadets commence on the nth day 
of March. The academic duties and exercises of the other cadets 
commence on the 1st day of September and continue until about 
the 5th of June. Examinations of the several classes are held in 
December and June. At the December examination cadets who 
are found to be proficient in their studies are arranged according 
to merit in each subject. At the June examination they are sim¬ 
ilarly arranged and they are also assigned general standing in the 
class as determined by their standing in the various subjects. When 
a subject of study is completed during a term, an examination con¬ 
cluding the work in that subject is sometimes held. Cadets deficient 
in studies at any examination are discharged from the Academy 
unless for special reasons the Academic Board recommends other¬ 
wise. Cadets exceeding at any time the maximum number of 
demerits allowed for six months are immediately reported to the 
Academic Board as deficient in conduct and are discharged. 

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. 

All cadets are examined physically in May of each year, and 
those found physically disqualified to continue with the course or, 
in case of the first class, for commission in the Army, are discharged. 

VACATIONS AND LEAVES OF ABSENCE. 

Aqpdemic duties are suspended from the completion of the 
June examinations until the end of August. During this period 
cadets live in camp and are engaged in military duties and exercises 
and in receiving practical instruction in military and other subjects. 
Academic duties are also suspended from the close of the semi¬ 
annual examination, about December 24th, until January 2d. All 
duties and exercises, as far as practicable, are suspended on New 
Year’s Day, February 22d, May 30th, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, 
and Christmas Day. 

Cadets of the first, second, and third classes are allowed short 
leaves of from four to six days at Christmas, if their conduct during 


United States Military Service. * 35 

the preceding year has been satisfactory. Excepting these short 
leaves for good conduct, cadets are allowed but one leave of ab¬ 
sence during the four-years course. As a rule, this leave is granted 
at the end of the third year’s course, from the middle of June to 
the 28th of August. 

PAY OF CADETS. 

The pay of a cadet is $600 per year and one ration per day, or 
commutation therefor at 30 cents per day. The total is $709.50, 
to commence with his admission to the Academy. The actual and 
necessary traveling expenses of candidates from their homes to the 
Military Academy are credited to their accounts after their admission 
as cadets. 

No cadet is permitted to receive money, or any other supplies, 
from his parents, or from any person whomsoever, without the 
sanction of the Superintendent. A most rigid observance of this 
regulation is urged upon all parents and guardians, as its violation 
would make distinctions between cadets, which it is the especial 
desire to avoid; the pay of a cadet is sufficient, with proper economy, 
for his support. 

Each cadet must keep himself supplied with the following- 
mentioned articles, viz.: 

Eight white shirts, two gray shirts, * eight summer undershirts, 
*six winter undershirts, *four night shirts, twelve white linen col¬ 
lars, twelve pairs of white linen cuffs, * eight pairs of summer draw¬ 
ers, *six pairs of winter drawers, *eight pairs of socks, *twelve 
pocket handkerchiefs, one black tie, * twelve towels, two clothes-bags 
made of ticking, two pairs of uniform shoes, six pairs of uniform 
white gloves, two sets of white belts, *one clothes-brush, *one hair¬ 
brush, *one tooth-brush, *one comb, one mattress, one pillow, four 
pillow-cases, six sheets, two blankets, one quilted bed cover, one 
chair, one tumbler, *one trunk, one account-book, one wash basin. 

Candidates are authorized to bring with them the articles 
marked *. 

Cadets are required to wear the prescribed uniform. All ar¬ 
ticles of their uniform are of a designated pattern and are sold to 
cadets at West Point at regulated prices. 

DEPOSIT PRIOR TO ADMISSION. 

Immediately after admission candidates must be provided with 
an outfit of uniform, etc., the cost of which is about $160. This 


36 Aspirants jor Commissions in the 

sum, or at least $100 thereof, must be deposited with the Treasurer 
of the Academy before the candidate is admitted. It is best for the 
candidate to take with him no more money than- he needs for trav¬ 
eling expenses and for his parents to send the required deposit by 
draft, payable to the Treasurer, U. S. Military Academy. The de¬ 
posit is credited at once to the cadet’s account. Upon graduation, 
a cadet who has exercised proper economy will have sufficient money 
to his credit with the Treasurer of the Academy to purchase his 
uniform and equipment as an officer. 

PROMOTION AFTER GRADUATION. 

The attention of applicants and candidates is called to the fol¬ 
lowing provisions of an Act of Congress, approved May 17, 1886, 
to regulate the promotion of graduates of the United States Military 
Academy: 

“That when any cadet of the United States Military Academy 
has gone through all its classes and received a regular diploma from 
the Academic Staff, he may be promoted and commissioned as a 
second lieutenant in any arm or corps of the Army in which there 
may be a vacancy and the duties of which he may have been judged 
competent to perform; and in case there shall not at the time be 
a vacancy in such arm or corps, he may, at the discretion of the 
President, be promoted and commissioned in it as an additional 
second lieutenant, with the usual pay and allowances of a second 
lieutenant, until a vacancy shall happen.’’ 

THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR. 

First term, September i-December 23. 

Second term, January 2-June 4. 

Semi-annual examination, December 26-31. 

Annual examination, June 5-12. 

RECITATION SCHEDULE. 

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United States Military Service. 


39 


DEPARTMENT OF TACTICS. 


ALE CLASSES. 

New cadets, upon reporting for duty, are given Infantry recruit 
instruction, with gymnastic and calisthenic exercises, until they 
join the battalion. 

Practical instruction is given during the summer encampment, 
and from September ist to November ist, and from March 15th to 
June ist, in Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry Drill Regulations, in 
target practice with the rifle, revolver, mountain gun and field gun, 
and in military engineering. 

During the summer encampment, cadets of the third and fourth 
classes are also taught swimming and dancing, and those of the first 
class the Service of Sea-coast Artillery and submarine defense at 
Fort Wright, N. Y.; all classes participate in exercises of minor 
tactics, practice marches, problems, and practical field-work, in 
which the employment of all arms is exemplified. 

Practical instruction in fencing and gymnastic exercises and in 
boxing and wrestling is given to the fourth class from October ist to 
June ist, and to the other classes from November ist to March 15th. 

Instruction in riding is given to the first class during the en¬ 
campment and from September ist to June ist, excepting the month 
of February; to the second class, from November ist to March 31st; 
and to the third class from November ist to March 15th and during 
the summer encampment. Instruction with English pad-saddles 
is given to the first class, and in polo to the first and second classes. 

During the winter months map problems for the purpose of in¬ 
struction in writing orders, selecting positions from the map, both 
offensive and defensive, making dispositions of small forces, selecting 
best route for advance and retreat, and for practice of map-reading 
in general; also lectures upon the methods pursued in company, 
post, and staff administration as required by Army Regulations, 
upon uniforms and equipments, and upon etiquette and customs of 
the Service, are given cadets of the first class. 


TEXT-BOOKS. 


Field Artillery Drill Regulations. 
U. S. 

Cavalry Drill Regulations. U. S. 
Infantry Drill Regulations. U. S. 
Coast Artillery Drill Regulations. 
U. S. 


Mountain Artillery Drill Regu¬ 
lations. 

Elements of Hippology. Mar¬ 
shall. 

Coast Artillery Drill Regulations: 
P osition-finding Service. 


4 o 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

BOOKS OP REFERENCE. 

Army Regulations. U. S. Manual of Interior Guard Duty. 

Small-Arms Firing Regulations. U. S. 

U. S. Regulations. U. S. M. A. 

Drill Regulations for Machine Blue Book. U. S. M. A. 

Guns, Infantry and Cavalry. Manual of Physical Training. 
Manual of Pack Transportation. Field Service Regulations, U. S. 

ISSUED TO FIRST CLASS BEFORE GRADUATION. 

Army Regulations. U. S. Manual of Courts-Martial. U. S. 

Engineer Field Manual. Army Register. U. S. 

Uniform Regulations. 


DEPARTMENT OF CIVII, AND MILITARY 
ENGINEERING. 


first class. 

The course in Civil and Military Engineering and the Art of 
War is confined to the first class year. 

The course in Civil Engineering begins September ist and is 
completed during the first term, which closes with the Christmas 
holidays. It comprises brief treatises on the mechanics of Civil 
Engineering, framed and masonry structures, the materials of 
engineering, water supply, and sewerage. 

The course in Military Engineering and the Art of War begins 
on January 2d and closes on the 3d of June. Military Engineering 
embraces the study of field and permanent fortifications and siege 
works. The Art of War embraces the study of the organization of 
armies, employment of the different arms in combination, logistics, 
and strategy. To familiarize the students with its principles, lect¬ 
ures are delivered on military subjects, and the principal operations 
of about twenty selected campaigns are studied. During this course 
the students are taken to the battle-field of Gettysburg to familiarize 
them with the effects of topography on the employment of troops 
in the field. 

TEXT-BOOKS. 


Civil Engineering. Fiebeger. 
Field Fortifications. Fiebeger. 
Permanent Fortifications. Fie¬ 
beger. 

Elements of Strategy. Fiebeger. 


Siege Works. Mercur. 

Campaign of Gettysburg. Fie¬ 
beger. 

Field Service Regulations. U. S . 
Army Organization. Fiebeger. 



United States Military Service. 41 

BOOKS OF REFERENCE. 

Campaigns and Battles. Department. 

Story of Civil War. Ropes. Cambria Steel. 

The Department has a well-selected reference library on Civil 
Engineering, Military Engineering, and the Art of War. 

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAE AND EXPERIMENTAL 
PHILOSOPHY. 

SECOND CLASS. 

The course in Natural and Experimental Philosophy begins with 
the third academic year. Mechanics is studied during this year, 
the class alternating daily by halves. The text used is Gordon’s 
“Mechanics.” Many of the principles are illustrated by apparatus 
in the lecture- and section-rooms, and the students are required to 
repeat and explain these experiments. The course aims to be as 
complete as possible with the limitation that it can be properly 
covered in a term of about one hundred days by students having a 
proficient knowledge of the calculus; the treatment is sufficiently 
mathematical to furnish a confident basis for advanced wotk in the 
technical staff corps after graduation. 

During the second term about 120 lessons are allotted to this 
department. The first half of this time is devoted to the subjects 
of sound and light. The authorized text-book is Gordon’s “Sound 
and Light.” 

Astronomy is studied in the remainder of the second class year. 
The texts used are Young’s “General Astronomy” and Michie and 
Harlow’s “Practical Astronomy.” The principal aim of this course, 
in addition to its important value in educational development, 
is to furnish an ample basis for the establishment of stations in 
explorations and surveys. 

text-books . 

Sound and Light. Gordon. Practical Astronomy. Michie 

Mechanics. Gordon. and Harlow. 

General Astronomy. Young. 

Numerous standard works on the general subjects covered by 
the course are available for reference. 


42 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS. 

FOURTH AND THIRD CLASSES. 

The course in Mathematics begins with the fourth class year, 
and extends through the third class year. 

In the fourth class year algebra and geometry are taken on 
alternate days for three months. In both these subjects the matter 
covered by the entrance examination is reviewed rapidly and, in 
the case of plane geometry, very briefly before proceeding with the 
regular course. An examination is held in June, upon which the 
class is graded according to mathematical capacity. 

In the fourth class year algebra is completed in alternation with 
trigonometry. Plane and solid analytical geometry and descriptive 
geometry follow. 

In the third class year a course in the differential and integral 
calculus is taken, alternating during the latter portion with the 
subject of mechanics in the Department of Philosophy. The most 
advanced students take also a brief course in the theory of errors 
and method of least squares. 

The course in algebra covers the entire subject as generally 
taught in colleges, but the student is expected to have already 
mastered elementary algebra to include the progressions and the 
solution of the quadratic equation. The course in elementary geom¬ 
etry includes the books that relate to the plane and those that 
relate to space, but the student is expected to have mastered the 
former. Plane and spherical trigonometry includes the complete 
solution of the plane and spherical triangles. The course in ana¬ 
lytical geometry includes the discussion of the general equation of 
the second degree in the plane and in space. 

Descriptive geometry includes, in orthographic projections, the 
right line, the plane, ruled surfaces and surfaces of revolution, tan¬ 
gent planes, and intersections of surfaces. It also covers shades and 
shadows, perspective, isometric projections, and, for the upper part 
of the class, spherical projections. 

The course in differential and integral calculus covers the 
ground of the usual college text-books, including briefly the subject 
of ordinary differential equations. 

TEXT-BOOKS. 

Advanced Course in Algebra. Elements of Geometry. Phillips 
Wells. and Fisher. 


United States Military Service. 


Quadratics and Beyond. Fisher 
and Schwatt. 

Elements of Plane and Spherical 
Trigonometry. Crockett. 
Linear Perspective. Pillsbury. 
Differential and Integral Calcu¬ 
lus. Granville. 

Differential Equations. Murray. 


43 

Logarithmic Tables. Newcomb. 
Conic Sections. C. Smith. 
Elements of Analytical Geometry 
(Solid). Smith and Gale. 
Descriptive Geometry. Church. 
Integral Calculus. D. A. Murray. 
Method of Least Squares. John¬ 
son. 


DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY, AND 
GEOLOGY. 
second class. 

This department embraces two branches of Physics not includ¬ 
ed in its title—namely, heat and electricity. 

The course begins September ist of the third academic year and 
extends throughout the year; exercises, recitations, laboratory work, 
or lectures take place on all week-days. 

Commencing September ist, general chemistry, alternating 
with lessons in heat, occupy the time until the close of the term 
in December. 

During this term all members of the class whose progress, as 
shown by their recitations, warrants it, are given laboratory practice 
in chemistry. This practice begins with chemical minipulations 
and proceeds in the usual general order of elementary laboratory 
work. The laboratory exercises are one hour and fifty minutes 
long. It is generally possible to give all parts of the class some 
laboratory experience; the amount of this work, however, varies 
with the aptitude of the student from a few hours to fifty-five or 
sixty hours. 

This term closes with an examination upon the essential parts 
of the entire course, which all cadets who have not shown a 
prescribed proficiency in daily work must take. 

In chemistry the course is a descriptive general one, based on 
a concise statement of the more essential principles of chemistry, 
and includes that class of information deemed most important to 
non-specialists, together with an accurate and logical treatment of 
many useful applications of chemistry. 

Beginning January 2d, the daily exercises alternate between 
geology, mineralogy, and electricity. This term also closes with an 
examination, covering the essential parts of the subjects studied 


44 * Aspirants for Commissions the 

during the term witch ell cadets who have not shown a prescribed 
proficiency in daily work ere required to take 

The course in heat is short- but it is a comprehensive element¬ 
ary course, intended to embrace what is most applicable to subse¬ 
quent work at the Academy ana what is most useful in general 
education. 

The course in geology is a brief but scientidc presentation of 
the essential elements c: this branch of sdence. 

The mineralogy is an eminently practical course, consisting of 
the descriptive study and the practical cetemiratior of the im¬ 
portant minerals. The lithological and palaeontological part of geol¬ 
ogy is accompanied in study by the continued practical examination 
of the objects described. 

The course in electricity is a brief exposition of the leading 
electrical phenomena and their relations to each other. It includes 
a study of the general principles of the subject and of the typical 
machines, generators, motors, and transformers, together with the 
more important uses of electricity. The laboratory exercises give 
experience with a number of the machines and in the use o: a great 
variety of apparatus employed in the numerous forms of electric 
measurements. In this term the laboratory work is a part of the 
electrical course, ana ah cadets enter the laboratory. AH laboratory 
work is performed under the immediate supervision of an -Instructor. 

TEXT-BOOKS. 

Elementary Lessens in Heat- 
Tillman. 

Descriptive General Chemistry. 

Tillman. 

Practical Chemistry. Labora¬ 
tory Guide., Clowes. 

During ah terms star ear l works on the respective subjects are 
available for reference, both to cadets and instructors. 

DEPARTMENT OF DRAWING. 

THIRD A-VO SECOND CLASSES. 

The course in Drawing is carried on through the third das* and 
second class years. 

It begins in the first-year course wiah elementary freehand work 
from blocks and objects or the training o: the eye and hand, and is 
followed by instruction in the nature and use of era win g instruments, 


-elements of Geology. Le Conte. 
Important Minerals and Rocks. 
Tillmam 

Elementary Electricity. Robin- 
sera- 














45 


United States Military Service. 

papers, and material, construction of practical problems in plane 
geometry used in constructive and mechanical drawing. This is 
followed by the construction of problems in descriptive geometry, 
covering the theoretical course in Mathematics; the lower part of 
the class being confined to the practical problems most useful in 
mechanical and building construction drawing. A short course of 
lettering and handling of flat washes precedes the general study of 
topography and map-making, in which theoretical instruction is 
coupled with the execution of conventional signs, platting, the con¬ 
struction and lettering of a finished map, and practice in the field 
in the various elements of military topographical field sketching. 
This completes the first year’s course. 

Text-book pamphlets: 

Drawing Instruments and Papers. 

The Use of Drawing Instruments, and Geometrical 
Problems. 

Elementary Exercises in Water-color Washes. 

Military Topography—Map-reading and Map-making. 

Book of Letters and Lettering. 

Descriptive Geometry Problems. 

The work of the second year begins with freehand military 
landscape sketching in the field; and is followed by memory- 
drawing for the training of the formal memory, and freehand me¬ 
chanical, and projective drawing. 

department OF MODERN LANGUAGES. 

THIRD, SECOND, AND FIRST CLASSES. 

The course in Modern Languages comprises instruction in the 
French and Spanish languages. 

French. 

THIRD CLASS. 

The requirements of this course are as follows: 

Construction of the language; reading and writing French; 
dictation; military terms; translation (written and oral) of English 
into French and French into English; conversation; themes. 

Instruction in the French language begins September ist and 
is completed June 4th. The course comprises about two hundred 
and nineteen lessons. 


4 6 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

Spanish. 

second and first classes. 

The requirements of this course are as follows: 

Construction of the language; reading and writing Spanish; 
dictation; translation (written and oral) of English into Spanish 
and Spanish into English; oral recitations arid conversation; themes. 

Instruction in the Spanish language begins October 4th of the 
second class year and is completed June 4th of the first class year. 
The course comprises about one hundred and seventy-six lessons. 
The present text-books are: 

French . 

French Pronunciation. De Peiffer. 

Treatise on the Conjugation of French Verbs. Castarfede. 
Elementary French. Aldrich and Foster. 

La Langue Frangaise, premiere partie. Bercy. 

Le Petit Parisien. Kron. 

Martin’s “French Verbs.” 

Introductory French Composition. Francois. 

Guerlac’s “Standard French Authors.” 

Advanced French Prose Composition. Francois. 

Potter’s “Dix Contes Modernes.” 

French Verbs and Prepositions, Idioms, Letters. 

Cameron’s “Tales of France.” 

Marchand’s “French Idioms.” 

Revue Militaire des Armees Etrang&res. 

Labiche and Martin’s “Voyage de M. Perrichon.” 

Courrier des Etats- Unis (Sunday edition). 

Spanish—Second and First Classes. 

Spanish Grammar. Olmsted and Gordon. 

Spanish Grammar. Garner. 

El Castellano Actual. Romdn y SalamerOi 
Las Novedades. 

First Spanish Book. Worman. 

Elementary Spanish Reader. Ramsey. 

ABC , Spanish Daily Newspaper. 

BOOKS OF REFERENCE. 

French. 

French Dictionary. Cassell. 

Military Technical Dictionary. Wilcox. 


United States Military Service. 47 

Spanish. 

New Spanish-English and English-Spanish Dictionary, 
by Cuy&s. (Appleton.) 

DEPARTMENT OF LAW. 

FIRST CLASS. 

The course in Law covers the following subjects: 

1. The Elements of Law. 3. International Law. 

2. Constitutional Law. 4. Military Law. 

5. The Law of War. 

To illustrate principles in the text-books, cadets are required to 
recite on numerous cases from the reports. Lectures are also given 
upon the subjects taught, so far as the limits of time allotted to 
this course permit. 

TEXT-BOOKS 

The Elements of Law. Davis, G. B. 

Constitutional Law. Davis, E. G. 

International Law. Davis, G. B. 

Military Law. Dudley. 

There is a reference library in the department of about 2,500 
volumes, accessible to the cadets. 

DEPARTMENT OF PRACTICAL MILITARY 
ENGINEERING. 

FOURTH, THIRD, AND FIRST CLASSES. 

Cadets of the fourth class receive an elementary course in 
theoretical Surveying. 

During the summer encampment, cadets of the third class re¬ 
ceive practical instruction in the use and adjustment of surveying 
instruments and in surveying methods. In this course they apply 
in the field what has been taught them in their theoretical course 
of the preceding spring. The course includes tie-line surveys, made 
by use of the tape or chain alone, surveys made by the compass 
and with the transit, and running differential level circuits. 

During the summer encampment cadets of the first class are 
instructed in building pile, trestle, and pontoon bridges, in impro¬ 
vising methods of crossing streams, in making road sketches, both 
mounted and dismounted, and in combined position sketching. 


48 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

During the fall course this class is given instruction in the construc¬ 
tion and operation of appliances used in field engineering, in the 
erection of spar and trestle bridges, and in the use of explosives in 
military demolitions. The spring course is devoted to field forti¬ 
fication work, including the construction of trenches, revetments, 
obstacles, bomb-proofs, and gun-pits; posting and distribution of 
working parties in the construction of saps, trenches, parallels, and 
approaches; and tracing and profiling siege-works. 

TEXT-BOOKS. 

Theory and Practice of Surveying. Johnson-Smith. 

BOOKS OB REFERENCE. 

The Engineer Field Manual. 

Plane Surveying. Tracy. 

The Slide Rule. Alexander. 

The Side Rule. Clark. 

DEPARTMENT OF ORDNANCE AND GUNNERY. 
first class. 

The subject of Ordnance and Gunnery is studied by the cadets 
of the first class throughout the academic year. 

The course of instruction covers the principles involved in the 
construction and use of war material. It is broadly divided into 
three parts: The theoretical, the descriptive, and the practical. 
The theoretical part includes the study of the action of explosives, 
the study of interior and exterior ballistics, the theories of gun- and 
carriage-construction, and the principles of Gunnery. The theoret¬ 
ical part of the course is not the same for all cadets; those showing 
the necessary proficiency taking a special course of twenty-one les¬ 
sons in the time devoted by the remainder of the class to review work. 

The descriptive part of the course covers the processes of man¬ 
ufacture of powders, guns, projectiles, and armor, and describes the 
small-arms, cannon, and machine and rapid-fire guns in use in the 
United States Service, with the carriages, ammunition, and accessory 
appliances required for their service. The department is well sup¬ 
plied with models, which are used in conjunction with the text. 

The practical part of the course covers work with ballistic in¬ 
struments, and the operation of machines and appliances used in the 
fabrication of modern ordnance, the latter work being in effect a 
short but valuable course in manual training. 


United States Military Service. 49 

In connection with the course, visits are made to Watervliet 
Arsenal, where the processes of gun-construction are observed, and 
to the Ordnance Proving-ground at Sandy Hook, where actual 
firings from the several classes of guns are observed, including 
usually one or more shots against armor, and where the latest 
developments in war material are seen: 

text-books. 

Ordnance and Gunnery. Lissak. 

Exterior Ballistics. O’Hern. 

Stresses in Wire-wrapped Guns and in 
Gun Carriages. Ruggles. 

BOOKS OB' REFERENCE- 

Ballistic Tables. Ingalls. 

Mathematical Tables. Newcomb. 

Publications of Ordnance Department. 

U. S. Army. 

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY HYGIENE. 

THIRD CLASS. 

The course in Military Hygiene for the second class begins 
with the second year and consists of thirteen recitations and six 
demonstrations. 

The course covers the essential points in Military Hygiene, 
particular attention being paid to the following: 

Personal hygiene, with special reference to the soldier and his 
environment; the hygiene and sanitation of military commands in 
garrison and in the field; and the causes and prevention of infec¬ 
tious diseases and control of epidemics; also the nature of alcoholic 
drinks and narcotics, and special instruction as to their effects upon 
the human system. 

During the summer camp five lectures with exercises are given 
to the first class on the use of the first aid packet and the treatment 
of medical and surgical emergencies. While on the practice march, 
at the end of each day, the medical officer on duty with the Corps 
discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the camp-site from 
the viewpoint of the military sanitarium, and also camp cooking, 
the water supply, and various other matters pertaining to camp 
hygiene and sanitation. 


5 o 


Aspirants jor Commissions in the 

text-book. 

The Elements of Military Hygiene. Keefer. 

REFERENCE books. 

Military Hygiene. Harvard. 

Elements of Military Hygiene. Ashburn. 
Practical Hygiene. Harrington. 


DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND HISTORY. 

FOURTH CLASS. 

English. 

Essential principles of rhetoric; frequent practice in various 
forms of written and oral composition, including personal and official 
correspondence and official forms; study of selected literary master¬ 
pieces, and of essentials in the history of English literature and 
language. 

History. 

Political, social, and economic history from the end of the 
Middle Ages to the present day; study of typical forms of modern 
national and municipal governments; fundamental principles of 
civil government, historically considered, with special reference to 
the United States. 

text-books. 

English. 

English Composition. Henry S. Canby, and others. 

Golden Treasury, Everyman’s Library edition. Palgrave. 

Shakespeare’s Works. Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King.’’ 

Selections from Addison, selections from Macaulay, selections 
from Stevenson, and Carlyle’s “Heroes and Hero-Worship.” 

TEXT-BOOKS. 

History. 

A Political History of Modern Europe. F. Schwill. 

The Development of Modern Europe. J. H. Robinson and 
C. A. Beard. 

Readings in Modem European History, Vol. II. Robinson 
and Beard. 

The Development of the State. Dealey. 


United States Military Service. 51 

THE LIBRARY. 

Cadets and officers have free access to the library, which com¬ 
prises some eighty thousand books, maps, and manuscripts. The 
collection contains substantially all standard books on the subjects 
taught in the Academy and is especially complete in military sub¬ 
jects. Its card catalogues (about 338,000 cards) are arranged with 
the special object of saving the time of cadets. The library is open 
on week-days from 8 a . m . to 9:30 p. m . ; on Sundays and holidays, 
from 2 to 6 p . m . 

CORPS ORGANIZATION. 

For instruction in Infantry Drill Regulations and in military 
police and discipline, the Corps of Cadets is organized into two 
battalions, under the Commandant of Cadets, assisted by two bat¬ 
talion commanders (Army officers), each company being commanded 
by an officer of the Army. The cadet officers and non-commissioned 
officers are selected from those cadets who have been most studious, 
soldierlike in the performance of their duties, and most exemplary 
in their general deportment. In general, the cadet captains and 
lieutenants are taken from the first class, the sergeants from the 
second class, and the corporals from the third class. 


52 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


CHAPTER III. 


Promotion of Enlisted Men. 

QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANTS.—APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION.— 

PRELIMINARY PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.-PRELIMINARY MORAL 

CHARACTER AND MENTAL EXAMINATION.—FINAL EXAMINATION. 
—FINAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.—FINAL MORAL CHARACTER 
AND MENTAL EXAMINATION.—EXAMINATION AS TO FITNESS FOR 
MOUNTED SERVICE.—EXAMINATION FOR THE COAST ARTILLERY 
CORPS.—REPORT OF EXAMINING BOARD, AND ASSIGNMENTS. 

Vacancies in the grade of second lieutenant created or caused 
by the Act of June 3, 1916, in the Infantry, Cavalry, Field Artillery, 
and Coast Artillery, occurring in any fiscal year, will be filled by 
appointment as required by law, first, of cadets graduated from 
the United States Military Academy during the preceding fiscal 
year, for whom vacancies did not become available during the fiscal 
year in which they were graduated; second, under the provisions 
of existing law, of enlisted men, including officers of the Philippine 
Scouts, whose fitness for promotion shall have been determined by 
competitive examination; third, of members of the Officers’ Reserve 
Corps between the ages of 21 and 27 years; fourth, of commis¬ 
sioned officers of the National Guard between the ages of 21 and 
27 years; fifth, of such honor graduates, between the ages of 21 and 
27 years, of distinguished colleges, as are now or may hereafter be 
entitled to preference by general orders of the War Department; 
and, sixth, of candidates from civil life between the ages of 21 and 
27 years. 


qualifications OF applicants. 

A soldier to be eligible to compete for appointment to the 
grade of second lieutenant must be a citizen of the United States, 
unmarried, and under thirty years of age on the first day of the 
competitive examination, and must have served honorably not less 
than one year in the Regular Army on that date; he must also be 
physically sound and of good moral character before and after 
enlistment. 



United States Military Service. 53 

APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION. 

An enlisted man or an officer of the Philippine Scouts who 
desires to appear for examination will submit through military 
channels an application so that it will reach his post commander 
at least one month before the date of examination. Any applica¬ 
tion received after that date will not be considered unless it be 
shown that the delay was through no fault of the applicant. The 
application will be accompanied by the “Form for Individual Rec¬ 
ord of Candidate,” filled out and sworn to as indicated. (See 
Form, end of chapter.) 

The applicant’s immediate commander in forwarding such ap¬ 
plication will verify the statement of service as given, and will 
state specifically whether, in his opinion, the soldier fulfills each 
of the conditions hereinbefore required, and will add his remarks 
as to the aptitude of the applicant for the position sought and 
whether he would object to the applicant’s assignment to his 
organization, giving his reasons therefor. 

EXAMINATIONS. 

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. 

The commanding officer of each post where applications are 
received will convene a board, consisting of at least one medical 
and two line officers, exclusive of the immediate commander of 
any applicant, to conduct the preliminary examination. Should 
the appointment of such board be impracticable, the application 
will be forwarded to the department commander (or division in the 
field), who will designate the board before which the candidate is 
to appear. These boards will be convened at least one month, 
or, if in the Philippines or Alaska, two months, prior to the date 
of the competitive examination. 

PRELIMINARY PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. 

Each applicant will first be subjected to a rigid physical ex¬ 
amination, and if any cause of disqualification is found to exist, it 
will be specified in the report and the applicant will be rejected and 
his examination will cease unless, in the opinion of the medical offi¬ 
cers of the board, the physical defects are temporary in nature and 
such as may be overcome by the time the applicant is to appear 
for final examination, in which case the physical defects and the 
reasons which influenced the board to continue the examination 


54 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

notwithstanding such defects will be fully set forth in the report. 
Examination as to physical qualifications will be made complete 
in each case and will conform to the standard required of recruits, 
except that any applicant whose degree of vision is less than 20 40 

in either eye, or who is color-blind for red, green, or violet, will 
be rejected. 

A certificate of physical examination by the medical officers 
of the board will accompany the proceedings of the board in 
each case. 

PRELIMINARY MORAL CHARACTER AND MENTAL EXAMINATION. 

The moral character of each applicant who has been found 
physically qualified will then be inquired into, and any applicant 
who has not borne a good moral character before and after enlist¬ 
ment will be rejected and his examination will cease. 

Each applicant will submit to the officer conducting the exam¬ 
ination testimonials as to his moral character and fitness for the 
position of a commissioned officer, and these testimonials will be 
forwarded with the report of the board. 

The board will conduct such inquiries as will enable it to ren¬ 
der an opinion, based on observation, verbal questioning of the 
applicant, and upon all available data, as to whether the candidate 
possesses the qualifications to be desired in a commissioned officer 
and as to his probable ability to pass the final mental examination. 

FINAL EXAMINATION. 

Each year in which there remain vacancies in the grade of 
second lieutenant for appointment to which enlisted men and offi¬ 
cers of the Philippine Scouts are eligible, the War Department will, 
on July 1st, or on such other date or dates as may be decided upon, 
convene a board of five officers, two of whom shall be medical 
officers whose duties will be confined to inquiring into and reporting 
upon the physical qualifications of the applicants, before which 
those who have successfully passed the preliminary examination 
will be ordered to appear to compete in the final examination for 
appointment to such vacancies. < 

No applicant will be ordered before the final board who has 
not successfully passed the preliminary post or department board 
for that year or the one immediately preceding. An applicant who 
twice fails to pass a preliminary examination in years in which 
final examinations are held, or who twice fails to pass a final ex- 


United States Military Service. 55 

amination, can not again compete for appointment to the grade 
of second lieutenant in the Army. 

The records of the preliminary examinations and the papers 
pertaining thereto of applicants ordered to take the final exam¬ 
ination, together with such official records in the War Department 
as relate to the character and qualifications of such candidates for 
commission, will be submitted *to the board. The examination will 
be conducted in conformity with the following rules: 

FINAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. 

Bach applicant will first be subjected to a rigid physical exam¬ 
ination, and any applicant who fails to pass it will be rejected by 
the board; but, should he so desire, he will be permitted to undergo 
the mental examination with the distinct understanding that such 
examination will not confer upon him any right to appointment 
should his physical disability finally be regarded as disqualifying. 
Examination as to physical qualifications will conform to the stand¬ 
ard required of recruits, except that any applicant whose degree of 
vision is less than 20—40 in either eye, or who is color-blind for red, 
green, or violet, will be rejected. The physical examination will be 
made complete in each case, even though a deficiency be discovered, 
so as to ascertain whether any other defects exist. It is highly 
desirable that where a candidate is rejected for any physical cause, 
the cause of rejection should be so clearly established as to be con¬ 
clusive of the reasonableness and propriety of the rejection; and in 
cases where the physical fitness appears doubtful, the board should 
require the production of such testimony as to the medical history 
of the candidate and of his family as may be obtainable. A cer¬ 
tificate of physical examination by the medical officers of the board 
will accompany the proceedings of the board in each case. 

FINAL MORAL CHARACTER AND MENTAL EXAMINATION. 

The moral character of each applicant found physically quali¬ 
fied, or who desires to undergo the mental examination notwith¬ 
standing his physical defects, will then be inquired into, as herein¬ 
before set forth for the preliminary examination, and any applicant 
who has not borne a good moral character before and after enlist¬ 
ment will be rejected and his examination will cease. 

Bach applicant who has been found qualified morally and is 
physically qualified, or desires to undergo the mental examina¬ 
tion notwithstanding his physical defects, will then be examined 


56 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

mentally in the following subjects, the scope of the examination 
in each subject being as set forth under the head, “Preliminary 
Examination.” 

In awarding marks, the board will give to each subject in the 
examination the relative weight given in the following form. The 
general average of the candidate will be computed as follows: 
Mark each question according to its relative weight and reduce the 
aggregate of marks thus obtained in each subject to a scale of ioo; 
the result will give the mark in the subject. Multiply the mark 
in each subject by the number indicating the relative weight of 
the subject and divide the sum of the products by the sum of the 
relative weights; the quotient will be the general average. No can¬ 
didate will be passed by the board who shall not have attained an 
average of at least 65 per cent in each subject of examination and a 
general average of at least 75 per cent. 

Example ,. 


No. 

Subject. 

Mark. 

Weight. 

Product of 
Marks by 
Weights. 

1 

United States History and Constitution 

80 

1 

80 

2 

English Grammar and Composition_ 

86 

2 

172 

3 

General History__ _ 

74 

1 

74 

4 

Geography __ __ 

91 

1 

91 

5 

Arithmetic_ 

85 

1 

85 

6 

Algebra ____ 

90 

1 

90 

7 

Geometry. Plane _ 

87 

1 

87 

8 

Trigonometry, Plane- _____ 

77 

1 

77 

9 

Adaptability_ 

75 

2 

150 


Total __ __ 


11 

906 


General average.1 


.— 1 

82.36 


EXAMINATION AS TO FITNESS FOR MOUNTED SERVICE. 

All applicants will be examined carefully as to their fitness for 
mounted service, taking into consideration only the degree of pro¬ 
ficiency shown by them in riding and horsemanship and their size 
when so great as to indicate present or future unsuitability for mounted 
service, and the board will report them by name in three groups, as 
determined by the result of the examination, viz.: 

1 st. Those considered specially qualified for mounted service. 

2d. Those considered qualified. 

3d. Those considered not qualified. 

























57 


United States Military Service. 

EXAMINATION FOR APPOINTMENT IN THE 
COAST ARTILLERY CORPS. 

PRELIMINARY. 

Requirements for appointment in the Coast Artillery Corps 
are same as for other branches of the Service as far as preliminary 
examinations are concern^!. 

final examination. 

Each candidate for the Coast Artllery Corps who is physically 
qualified will be examined mentally in the following subjects: 

Weight. 

i. United States History and Constitution_i 


2. English Grammar and Composition_2 

3. General History_1 

4. Geography._1 

5. Arithmetic_1 

6. Algebra_1 

7. Geometry, Plane_1 

8. Trigonometry, Plane_1 

9. Elementary Electricity_1 

10. Elementary Mechanics_ 1 

11. Elementary Chemistry_1 


REPORT OF EXAMINING BOARD, AND 
ASSIGNMENTS. 

When the board shall have examined and passed upon all the 
applicants, it will prepare separate proceedings in each case and also 
a tabulated statement showing the order of their relative merit as 
developed by the examination, and forward the proceedings with all 
papers pertaining thereto to the Adjutant General of the Army. 

The final examination is competitive and for the number of 
vacancies in the grade of second lieutenant in the Infantry, Cav¬ 
alry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery remaining each year after 
the assignment of the graduates of that year of the United States 
Military Academy. 

The board will recommend for appointment in the Infantry, 
Cavalry, Field Artillery, or Coast Artillery only such number, in 
the order of merit established by the examination, as will equal 
the number of vacancies remaining after the assignment of the 
graduates of the Military Academy, as hereinbefore stated, and no 
greater number will be reported as having passed. No competitor 













58 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

will be recommended by the board who is not physically, morally, 
and mentally qualified for the position of second lieutenant in the 
arm for which recommended. Upon the approval by the War De¬ 
partment of the report of the board, each competitor recommended 
in accordance with this paragraph will be regarded as eligible for 
appointment. 

FORM FOR INDIVIDUAL- RECORD OF CANDIDATE. 

1. Give the exact date and place of your birth. 

2. Are you married or single? 

3. Are you a citizen of the United States? If so, state whether 

native-born or naturalized. 

4. What schools have you attended, and for what periods? An¬ 

swer explicitly, giving dates and designations of schools, as 
public schools, academies, district schools, colleges, manual 
training schools, night schools, etc. Give also names and 
present addresses of presidents, superintendents, comman¬ 
dants, principals, professors, or teachers under the super¬ 
vision of whom you were while attending schools, academies, 
colleges, etc. 

5. In what profession or occupation have you been employed? 

Answer explicitly, giving time, character of employment, etc. 

6. During what time have you supported yourself, totally or 

partially, by your own labor? 

7. Have you ever served in the Volunteers or organized Militia, 

or as a cadet at the United States Military Academy? An¬ 
swer explicitly, giving State, arm of Service, rank, etc. 

8. State concisely your service in the Regular Army, giving or¬ 

ganizations in which you have served and names of officers 
under whom you have served, with periods of such service 
(as near as possible) in each case. 

9. State the places of your residence since your twelfth birthday, 

giving dates between which you resided at each place. 

10. State the name and present address of each person by whom 
you were employed since your twelfth birthday, giving in 
each instance the nature of the employment and dates of 
its beginning and ending. 


[Signature, with full name, rank, etc.] 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the_day of_ 

A. D. 19_ 





United States Military Service. 


59 


CHAPTER IV. 


Appointments prom Civil Life. 

APPOINTMENTS TO THE CAVALRY, FIELD ARTILLERY, AND INFANTRY.— 

EXAMINING BOARDS, HOW CONSTITUTED.-THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR 

APPOINTMENT.-PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.—MORAL CHARACTER 

AND MENTAL EXAMINATION.-EXAMINATION AS TO FITNESS FOR 

MOUNTED SERVICE.-REPORT OF THE EXAMINING BOARD.—AP¬ 

POINTMENTS TO THE COAST ARTILLERY.—APPLICATIONS, HOW 
MADE.-EXAMINING BOARD, HOW CONSTITUTED.—QUALIFICA¬ 

TIONS OF CANDIDATES. 

Candidates for commissions in the Army from civil life come 
last in the order of precedence. The vacancies existing after the 
appointment of the graduating class at West Point, and of such of 
the enlisted men of the Army and officers of the Philippine Scouts 
as have satisfactorily passed all the examinations, have been usually 
sufficient to take up practically all of the vacancies occurring in 
the grade of second lieutenant. There are usually a few vacancies 
left, and the practice has now almost become a rule of giving these 
vacancies to honor graduates of institutions of learning having an 
Army officer detailed as professor of military science and tactics. 
There are ten schools known as “Class A” schools which are 
designated as “ distinguished,” and graduates from this class, no 
doubt, have a better chance of obtaining a commission than the 
graduates of non-distinguished schools, even of Class A. 

The Class A schools are those “whose organization is essen¬ 
tially military, whose students are habitually in uniform, in which 
military discipline is constantly maintained, and one of whose ob¬ 
jects is the development of the student by means of military drill 
and by regulating his daily conduct according to the principles of 
military discipline.” 

For list of military schools and the classifications, see Chapter 

XIV. 

The following rules and regulations govern the examination 
and appointment of candidates from civil life for appointment to 
the grade of second lieutenant in the Army: 



60 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

APPOINTMENTS TO THE CAVALRY, FIELD ARTILLERY, 
AND INFANTRY. 

EXAMINING BOARDS—HOW CONSTITUTED. 

Boards for the examination of applicants from civil life for 
appointment to the position of second lieutenant in the Cavalry, 
Field Artillery, and Infantry will be appointed by the Secretary of 
War, and will consist of five commissioned officers, including two 
medical officers. The duties of the medical officers will be confined 
to examining into and reporting upon the physical qualifications 
of the candidates. 

Those eligible eor appointment. 

Such vacancies in the grade of second lieutenant in the Cavalry, 
Field Artillery, and Infantry as exist after the assignment of the 
graduates of the United States Military Academy each year, and as 
are not required for qualified enlisted candidates, are available for 
the appointment of civilians. In any year when such vacancies 
are available they may be filled— 

First. By the appointment of honor graduates of institutions 
of learning at which officers of the Army are detailed as professors 
•of military science and tactics, whose students have exhibited the 
greatest application and efficiency in military training and knowl¬ 
edge, not to exceed ten for anyone year for all arms of the Service. 

Such graduates will not be required to undergo any mental 
examination, but each must be recommended by the Army officer 
serving at the time of graduation as professor of military science 
and tactics at the institution at which the applicant was graduated. 
The applicants of this class who may be appointed second lieuten¬ 
ants will be so appointed in advance of other appointees from civil 
1 fe; and their places in the lineal and relative lists of second lieu¬ 
tenants of the Army will be determined at the War Department 
by lot. 

Second. By the appointment of such civilian applicants as 
may be designated by the President and may pass the prescribed 
competitive examination. 

No person shall be examined unless he has a letter from the 
War Department authorizing his examination. 

If the candidate has been graduated at an institution where 
he received military instruction, he must present a diploma or a 
recommendation from the faculty of the institution. 


United States Military Service. 61 

If a member of the National Guard, he must present recom¬ 
mendations from the proper National Guard authorities. 

No candidate will be examined who is married, or under twenty- 
one or over twenty-seven years of age, or who is not a citizen of the 
United States. 

PHYSICAL, EXAMINATION. 

Each applicant will first be subjected to a rigid physical exam¬ 
ination, and any applicant who fails to pass it will be rejected by 
the board; but, should he so desire, he will be permitted to undergo 
the mental examination with the distinct understanding that such 
examination will not confer upon him any right to appointment 
should his physical disability finally be regarded as disqualifying. 
Examination as to physical qualifications will conform to the stand¬ 
ard required of recruits, except that any applicant whose degree of 
vision is less than 20—40 in either eye, or who is color-blind for 
red, green, or violet, will be rejected. 

The physical examination will be made complete in each case, 
even though a deficiency be discovered, so as to ascertain whether 
any other defects exist. It is highly desirable that where a candi¬ 
date is rejected for any physical cause, the cause of rejection should 
be so clearly established as to be conclusive of the reasonableness 
and propriety of the rejection, and in cases where physical fitness 
appears doubtful, the board should require the production of such 
testimony as to the medical history of the candidate and of his 
family as may be obtainable. A certificate of physical examination 
by the medical officers of the board will accompany the proceedings 
of the board in each case. 

MORAL, CHARACTER AND MENTAE EXAMINATION. 

The moral character of each applicant found physically quali¬ 
fied, or who desires to undergo the mental examination, notwith¬ 
standing his physical defects, will then be inquired into, and any 
applicant who has not borne a good moral character will be rejected 
and his examination will cease. 

Each applicant who has been found qualified morally and is 
physically qualified, or desires to undergo the mental examination 
notwithstanding his physical defects, will then be examined mentally 
in the following subjects: 

1. English grammar, including orthography, reading, and writ¬ 
ing from oral dictation. 

2. In his knowledge of arithmetic and his ability to apply 


62 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

its rules to practical questions; in his knowledge of the use of 
logarithms and ability to apply them to questions of practice; in 
his knowledge of algebra, through quadratic equations, and in his 
knowledge of plane and solid geometry, plane and spherical trigo¬ 
nometry, and elements of surveying. 

3. Geography, particularly in reference to the United States 
and North America. 

4. The outlines of general history, and particularly the history 
of the United States. 

5. The Constitution of the United States and the organization 
of the Government under it, and the elements of international law. 

6. Army Regulations, and the Drill Regulations of Cavalry, 
Field Artillery, or Infantry, as the candidate may elect. 

The examination in Drill Regulations shall consist of a prac¬ 
tical demonstration of the ability of the candidate to instruct and 
command troops in the exercises and maneuvers of the Drill Regu¬ 
lations to include the platoon, and shall take place in the presence 
of all the line officers of the board. 

7. The probable efficiency and aptitude of the candidate as 
judged by the examining board and as shown by his knowledge 
of Army and Drill Regulations acquired by personal study and ap¬ 
plication, or by experience in a military school, or in the National 
Guard. 

In awarding marks, the board will give to each subject in the 
examination the relative weight given in the following form: The 
general average of the candidates will be computed as follows: 
Mark each question according to its relative weight and reduce the 
aggregate of marks thus obtained in each subject to a scale of 100; 
the result will give the mark in the subject. Multiply the mark in 
each subject by the number indicating the relative weight of the 
subject and divide the sum of the products by the sum of the 
relative weights; the quotient will be the general average. 


United States Military Service. 63 


Example. 


No. 

Subject. 

Mark. 

Weight. 

Product of 
Marks by 
Weights. 

1 

United States History and Constitution 

80 

1 

80 

2 

English Grammar and Composition_ 

86 

2 

172 

3 

General History. _ 

74 

1 

74 

4 

Geography _ 

91 

1 

91 

5 

Arithmetic _ _ 

85 

1 

85 

6 

Algebra _ _ 

90 

1 

90 

7 

Geometry, Plane. 

87 

1 

87 

8 

Trigonometry, Plane _ 

77 

1 

77 

9 

Adaptability.. . _ 

75 

2 

150 


Total __ _ 


11 

906 


General average_ 


_ 

82.36 


EXAMINATION AS TO FITNESS FOR MOUNTED SERVICE- 

All applicants will be examined carefully as to their fitness for 
mounted service, taking into consideration only the degree of pro¬ 
ficiency shown by them in riding and horsemanship and their size 
when so great as to indicate present or future unsuitability for mounted 
service, and the board will report by name in three grbups as de¬ 
termined by the result of the examination, viz.: 

1st. Those considered specially qualified for mounted service. 

2d. Those considered qualified. 

3d. Those considered not qualified. 

REPORT OF THE EXAMINING BOARD. 

No candidate will be passed by the board who shall not have 
attained a general average of 75 per cent in all subjects examined 
upon, and not less than 65 per cent in any one subject. 

When the board shall have examined and passed upon all ap¬ 
plicants, it will prepare separate proceedings in each case and also 
a tabulated statement showing the order of their relative merit as 
determined by the general examination, and forward the proceed¬ 
ings with all papers pertaining thereto to the Adjutant General of 
the Army. In establishing the order of relative merit, the general 
average of each applicant will be made up from the average of the 
marks in all subjects in which he was examined. 

The following rules and regulations govern the appointment 
to the Coast Artillery of candidates from civil life: 

























64 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

APPOINTMENTS TO THE COAST ARTILLERY. 

APPLICATIONS—HOW MADE- 

Such vacancies in the grade of second lieutenant in the Coast 
Artillery Corps as exist after the assignment of the graduates of the 
United States Military Academy each year, and as are not required 
for qualified enlisted candidates, are available for the appointment 
of civilians who will be selected by competitive examination from 
those designated by the War Department. Applications for desig¬ 
nations should be addressed to the Adjutant General of the Army, 
and must include a signed statement showing the date of birth of 
the applicant, whether he is married or single, and whether or not 
he is a citizen of the LTiited States by birth or naturalization. 

EXAMINING BOARD-HOW CONSTITUTED. 

Candidates will be authorized to report for examination at 
such m li _a y posts in the vicinity of their homes as may be desig¬ 
nated in each case, and the examination will be conducted by a 
board to consist of two medical officers and one or more line officers, 
appointed by the post commander The duties of the medical 
officers shall be confined to inquiring into and reporting upon the 
physical qualifications of the applicants, and the duty of the line 
officers shall be to supervise the mental examination, which will be 
written, the questions therefor being furnished by the Adjutant 
General of the Army to the senior line officer of the board. The 
physical examination will be conducted first, and this will be fol¬ 
lowed by the mental examination, which will take place in the 
presence of the line officers of the board, at least one of whom must 
be present at all times during the mental examination. Each ex¬ 
amination paper will contain a certificate from one of the line officers 
of the board hat he app icant has" undergone the examination in 
his presence and without assistance from anyone. Examination 
papers, when completed, will be forwarded with the certificate of 
the medical officers to the Adjutant General of the Army. Marks 
upon both the preliminary and the competitive examination papers 
will be awarded by the War Department. 

QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES. 

No candidate wi’l be examined who is married, or under twenty- 
one or over twenty-seven years of age, or who is not a citizen of the 
United States. 


65 


United States Military Service. 

MORAL CHARACTER. 

All candidates shall submit to the officer conducting the mental 
examination testimonials or certificates as to their moral character 
and fitness for the position of a commissioned officer, and these testi¬ 
monials and certificates will be forwarded with the examination 
papers. 

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. 

Any applicant who fails to pass this examination will be re¬ 
jected, hut, should he so desire, he will be permitted to undergo 
the mental examination with the distinct understanding that such 
examination will not confer upon him any right to appointment 
should his physical disability finally be regarded as disqualifying. 
Examination as to physical qualifications will conform to the stand¬ 
ard required of recruits, except that any applicant whose degree 
of vision is less than 20—40 in either eye, or who is color-blind 
for red, green, or violet, will be rejected. The physical examina¬ 
tion will be made complete in each case, even though a deficiency 
be discovered, so as to ascertain whether any other defects exist. 
It is highly desirable that where a candidate is rejected for any 
physical cause, the cause of rejection should be so clearly estab¬ 
lished as to be conclusive of the reasonableness and propriety of the 
rejection, and in cases where physical fitness appears doubtful the 
board should require the production of such testimony as to the 
medical history of the candidate and of his family as may be 
obtainable. 

PRELIMINARY MENTAL EXAMINATION. 

Each applicant who is physically qualified or desires to undergo 
the mental examination notwithstanding his physical defects, ex¬ 
cept those exempted under the provisions of paragraph 8, will then 
be examined mentally in the following subjects: 

1. English grammar and orthography, the latter to be judged 
by all the papers submitted by the candidate. 

2. Mathematics, to include algebra, plane and solid geometry, 
trigonometry, and the elements of the calculus. 

3. Geography and history, particularly of the United States. 

The scope of the mathematical subjects will be that usually 

considered necessary as a general foundation or preparation for 
undertaking a scientific course of study, such as is given to officers 
at the Coast Artillery' School, Fort Monroe, Va., and is covered by 
the following or any other recognized text-books on the same 
subjects of an equivalent standard, viz.: 


66 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

New School Algebra. Wentworth. 

Plane and Solid Geometry (revised). Wentworth. 

New Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. Wentworth. 

Differential Calculus (to include Differentiation of Algebraic, 
Logarithmic, Exponential, and Trigonometric Functio s). 
McMahon and Snyder. 

Integral Calculus (first four chapters). D. A. Murray. 

In marking the examination papers, the following relative 
weights will be given to the subjects enumerated in this paragraph: 
grammar, 2; mathematics, 9; geography and history, 3. 

Candidates who attain a general average of 70 per cent in all 
of the above specified subjects will be considered as having passed a 
satisfactory preliminary examination. 

Applicants who are graduates of recognized colleges or univer¬ 
sities in either the classical or scientific courses thereof will, if they 
desire, be exempt from the preliminary examination described, and 
to this end they should submit to the War Department diplomas, 
certificates, or other evidence of such graduation when applying for 
the letter of designation referred to. If exempted, candidates will 
be so informed in their letters of designation. 

Honor graduates of institutions of learning at which officers 
of the Army are detailed as professors of military science and tac¬ 
tics, and whose students have exhibited the greatest application 
and proficiency in military training and knowledge, who have been 
selected for commissions in the Army among the ten of that class 
authorized for all arms, will, if they desire it, be appointed to 
vacancies in the Coast Artillery Corps under the provisions of 
this order and will be exempt from the preliminary examination 
prescribed. Those so appointed will take rank over all other 
appointees from civil life who compete at the same time. 

competitive mentae examination. 

On the completion of the preliminary examination, each appli¬ 
cant who has been found physically qualified, or desires to undergo 
the mental examination notwithstanding his physical defects, will 
then be examined mentally in the following subjects: 

1. Elementary electricity. 

2. Elementary mechanics. 

3. Elementary chemistry. 

4. Thje Constitution of the United States and the organization 
of the Government under it, and the elements of international law. 


United States Military Service. 67 

The scope of the examination in elementary electricity, me¬ 
chanics, and chemistry will be that of a high school or preparatory 
school examination in these subjects, and will cover only so much 
of the subjects as is usually considered necessary as a general foun¬ 
dation or preparation for beginning one of the scientific courses at 
recognized colleges or technical schools. The scope of the subjects 
is that covered by the following or any other recognized text-books 
of an equivalent standard, viz.: 

Lessons in Practical Electricity (Lessons 1 to 23). Swoope. 

A Text-Book of Physics. Wentworth and Hill. 

Elementary Chemistry. Clark and Dennis. 

In marking the examination papers, the following relative 
weights will be given to the subjects enumerated in this paragraph: 
elementary electricity, 2; elementary mechanics, 2; elementary 
chemistry, 2; the Constitution of the United States and inter¬ 
national law, 3. 

Candidates who pass satisfactorily the preliminary examination 
described, and those who are exempted from this preliminary ex¬ 
amination, will be graded in order of merit upon the results of the 
competitive mental examination described. From those so graded 
who pass satisfactorily the competitive mental examination, a suffi¬ 
cient number of candidates to fill the available vacancies will be 
selected. 


68 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


CHAPTER V. 


Appointments to the Porto Rico Regiment of 
Infantry. 

BOARDS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS.—QUALIFICATIONS FOR 
APPOINTMENT.—APPLICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION.— PHYSICAL 
EXAMINATION.—MORAL AND MENTAL EXAMINATION.-EXAMINA¬ 

TION FOR PROMOTION IN THE PORTO RICO REGIMENT.—FORM FOR 
INDIVIDUAL RECORD OF CANDIDATE. 

The Porto Rico Regiment of Infantry forms a part of the 
Regular Army and is organized the same as an Infantry regiment 
of the Regular Army. 

The officers of the Porto Rico Regiment have the same rank, 
pay, and allowances as officers of the same grade in the Regular 
Army, promotion being by seniority within the regiment. 

The following regulations governing the examination of candi¬ 
dates for appointment as second lieutenants, and of lieutenants for 
promotion in the Porto Rico Regiment of Infantry, having been ap¬ 
proved by the President, are published by the War Department for 
the information and guidance of all concerned. The Act of Con¬ 
gress approved May 27, 1908, provides that vacancies in the grade 
of second lieutenant may be filled by the President in his discretion 
by the appointment of citizens of Porto Rico, whose qualifications 
for commissions shall be established by examination: 

BOARDS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS. 
Boards for the examination of applicants for appointment to 
the position of second lieutenant in the Porto Rico Regiment of 
Infantry will be appointed by the Secretary of War and will consist 
of five commissioned officers, including two medical officers. The 
duties of the medical officers will be confined to examining into and 
reporting upon the physical qualifications of the candidates. 

QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT. 

Citizens of Porto Rico, including enlisted men of the Porto 
Rico Regiment of Infantry, who at the date of the examination 
are not less than twenty-one nor more than twenty-seven years of 
age and who are physically sound and of good moral character, are 





United States Military Service. 69 

eligible for examination, but no person will be examined by the 
board unless he has a letter from the War Department authorizing 
the same. 


APPLICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

Application for authority to appear before the examining board 
should be made in writing to the commanding officer, Porto Rico 
Regiment of Infantry, who will forward the same to the Adjutant 
General of the Army, indorsing thereon his opinion as to whether 
or not the applicant fulfills each of the conditions required in the 
preceding paragraph, and will add his remarks as to the aptitude 
of the applicant for the position sought. Each application will be 
accompanied by the “Form for Individual Record of Candidate,’ 
filled out and sworn to as indicated, and by evidence from reputable 
persons as to the age, citizenship, and moral character of the appli¬ 
cant. These papers will be referred to the board before which the 
applicant is authorized to appear. 

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. 

Each applicant will first be subjected to a rigid physical ex¬ 
amination, and any applicant who fails to pass it will be rejected 
by the board; but, should he so desire, he will be permitted to un¬ 
dergo the mental examination with the distinct understanding that 
such examination will not confer upon him any right to appointment 
should his physical disability finally be regarded as disqualifying. 

Examination as to physical qualification will conform to the 
standard required of recruits, except that any applicant who is 
under 5 feet 3 inches in height, or whose degree of vision is less 
than 20—40 in either eye, or who is color-blind for red, green, or 
violet, will be rejected. 

The physical examination will be made complete in each case, 
even though a deficiency be discovered, so as to ascertain whether 
any other defects exist. It is highly desirable that when a candi¬ 
date is rejected for any physical cause, the cause of rejection should 
be so clearly established as to be conclusive of the reasonableness 
and propriety of the rejection, and in cases where physical fitness ap¬ 
pears doubtful the board should require the production of such tes¬ 
timony as to the medical history of the candidate and of his family 
as may be obtainable. 

A certificate of physical examination by the medical officers of 
the board will accompany the proceedings of the board in each case. 


70 


Aspirants jor Commissions in the 

MORAL AND MENTAL EXAMINATION. 

The moral character of each applicant found physically quali¬ 
fied, or who desires to undergo the mental examination notwith¬ 
standing his physical defects, will then be inquired into, and any 
applicant who has not borne a good moral character will be rejected 
and his examination will cease. 

Each applicant who has been found qualified morally and is 
physically qualified, or desires to undergo the mental examination 
notwithstanding his physical defects, will then be examined men¬ 
tally in the following subjects, questions being prepared by the 
board, and answers submitted in writing: 

a. English grammar, including orthography, reading, and 

writing from oral dictation. 

b. Arithmetic, and ability to apply its rules to all practical 

questions. 

c. Geography, particularly that of North America. 

d. The outlines of history of the United States. 

e. Constitution of the United States and the organization of 

the Government under it. 

/. Army Regulations. 

g. Infantry Drill Regulations. Practical only and extending 

through the Schools of the Soldier, Squad, and Platoon, 
held in presence of the board. 

h. Probable efficiency and aptitude as judged by the board 

from the applicant’s knowledge of Army and Drill Regu¬ 
lations; his record, if any, in the military or civil service 
of the United States or of Porto Rico, and his conduct 
and appearance while undergoing examination. 

In awarding marks, the board will give to each subject in the 
examination the relative weight given in the following form. The 
general average of the candidate will be computed as follows: Mark 
each question according to its relative weight and reduce the aggre¬ 
gate of marks thus obtained in each subject to a scale of ioo; the 
result will be the percentage of proficiency in the subject. Multiply 
the percentage in each subject by the number indicating the relative 
weight of the subject and divide the sum of the products by the sum 
of the relative weights; the quotient will be the general percentage. 
No candidate will be passed by the board who shall not have at¬ 
tained at least 65 per cent in each subject of the examination and 
a general percentage of at least 75. 


United States Military Service. 7 1 


Example. 


No. 

Subject. 

Mark. 

Weight. 

Product of 
Marks by 
Weights. 

1 

United States History and Constitution 

80 

1 

80 

2 

English Grammar and Composition_ 

86 

2 

172 

3 

General History__ _ 

74 

1 

74 

4 

Geography- _ - 

91 

1 

91 

5 

Arithmetic_ 

85 

1 

85 

6 

Algebra ___ — _ - 

90 

1 

90 

7 

Geometry, Plane— _ 

87 

1 

87 

8 

Trigonometry, Plane_ _ 

77 

1 

77 

9 

Adaptability-- 

75 

2 

150 


Total __ _ 


11 

906 


General average_ 



82.36 


Y/hen the board shall have examined and passed upon all the 
applicants, it will prepare separate proceedings in each case, and 
also u tabulated statement showing the order of their relative merit 
as developed by the examination, and forward the proceedings 
with all papers pertaining thereto to the Adjutant General of the 
Army. 

EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION IN THE PORTO 
RICO REGIMENT. 

The examination of first and second lieutenants of the Porto 
Rico Regiment of Infantry for promotion in the regiment will be 
conducted in the manner prescribed by General Orders, No. 14, 
War Department, 1912, for the examination for promotion of first 
and second lieutenants of Infantry, respectively. 

FORM FOR INDIVIDUAL RECORD OF CANDIDATE. 

1. Give the exact da e and place of your birth. 

2. Are you married or single? 

3. Are you a citizen of Porto Rico? 

4. What schools have you attended? 

5 In what profession or occupation have you been employed? 

6. Have you ever served in any military capacity under the United 
States Government? State organizations and periods of 
service. 

























72 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

7. Have you ever served in the civil government of Porto Rico or 
any municipality thereof? State positions held and cause of 
relinquishing each. 

[Signature, with full name, rank, etc.] 

Sworn to and subscribed before me the_day of_, 

A. D. 19_ 





United States Military Service.- 


73 


CHAPTER VI. 


Appointments to the Philippine Scouts. 

EXAMINATION FOR APPOINTMENT.-EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION OR 

REAPPOINTMENT.-PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION OF OFFICERS 

OF THE PHILIPPINE SCOUTS.—FORM OF INDIVIDUAL RECORD OF 

CANDIDATE FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT. 

The Philippine Scouts form a part of the Army of the United 
States, but not the Regular Army. The majors are appointed from 
captains of the line of the Regular Army, and the captains from the 
first lieutenants of Scouts. The officers are detailed for a period 
of four years. The lieutenants are selected from enlisted men of 
the Regular Army, from officers' and enlisted men of the Volunteers 
who served since the beginning of the war with Spain, from civil 
life, or from natives of the Philippine Islands. 

Candidates for appointment to the Scouts are referred to the 
chapter on the Philippine Constabulary for information about the 
Philippine Islands. 

The commissioned organization consists of n majors, 51 cap¬ 
tains, 55 first lieutenants, and 63 second lieutenants (1910). The 
enlisted strength is about 5,500. It is limited by law to 12,000. 

The enlisted men are natives and enter for a tern of three years. 
At present, sergeants receive $15.00, corporals $9.00, and privates 
$7.80 per month. 

The Secretary of War is authorized to permit not exceeding 
four Filipinos, to be designated, one for each class, by the Philip¬ 
pine Commission, to receive instruction at the United States Mili¬ 
tary Academy at West Point. They receive the same pay, allow¬ 
ances, and emoluments as other cadets, and on graduation are eli¬ 
gible to commissions in the Philippine Scouts only. They are re¬ 
quired to serve for eight years in the Scouts unless earlier discharged. 

EXAMINATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE SCOUTS. 

The rules and regulations for the examinations are issued from 
the War Department. There have been changes from time to time, 
but the following, taken from the latest War Department order, is 
likely to remain the regulations for some time to come: 



74 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

1. For the purpose of securing a list of persons specially 
qualified for appointment as second lieutenants of Philippine Scouts, 
the War Department will convene boards of officers at suitable and 
convenient Army posts on the ist day of November of each year 
for the purpose of examining applicants. These boards will consist 
of five commissioned officers, including two medical officers whose 
duties will be confined to examining into and reporting upon the 
physical qualifications of the candidates. 

2. Applicants for appointment must be citizens of the United 
States or of the Philippine Islands, unmarried, not under twenty-one 
nor over thirty years of age on the first day of the examination, 
physically sound, and of good moral character. Enlisted men of 
the Regular Army, to be eligible for appointment, must have had 
not less than two years’ service. 

3. An enlisted man who desires to appear for examination 
will submit through military channels an application so that it will 
reach his department commander on or before July ist of the year 
in which he desires to take the examination. The application will 
be accompanied by the “Form for Individual Record of Candidate,” 
filled out and sworn to as indicated. (See Form, end of chapter.) 

The company commander, in forwarding such application, will 
verify the statement of service as given, and will state specifically 
whether, in his opinion, the soldier fulfills each of the conditions 
required by the preceding paragraph, and will add his remarks as 
to the aptitude of the applicant for the position sought. 

The post commander will cause the applicant to be examined 
by a medical officer as to his physical qualifications, and will forward 
the report of such examination with the application, adding his re¬ 
marks as to the aptitude* of the applicant for the position sought. 

4. An applicant from civil life will submit his application in 
his own handwriting on or before July ist of the year in which he 
wishes to take the examination to the Adjutant General of the Army. 
The application must set forth that the applicant possesses the 
qualifications prescribed in paragraph 2 of this chapter, and be 
accompanied by evidence of reputable persons as to character and 
fitness, and by a certificate of some reputable physician that he is 
physically sound. 

5. The applications and all papers pertaining thereto, to¬ 
gether with such official records of the War Department as relate 
to the character and qualifications of applicants, will be submitted 
to the boards before which the respective applicants may be di- 


United States Military Service. 75 

rected or authorized to appear. No person shall be examined unless 
he has a letter or order from the War Department authorizing his 
examination. 

6. Each candidate will first be subjected to a rigid physical 
examination, and any candidate who fails to pass it will be rejected 
by the bo rd; but, should he so desire, he will be permitted to un¬ 
dergo the mental examination. Examinations as to physical quali¬ 
fications will conform to the standard required of recruits. The 
physical examination will be made complete in each case, even 
though a deficiency be discovered, so as to ascertain whether any 
other defects exist. It is highly desirable that when a candidate is 
rejected for any physical cause, the cause of rejection should be so 
clearly established as to be conclusive of the reasonableness and 
propriety of rejection. A certificate of physical examination by the 
medical officers of the board will accompany the proceedings of the 
board in each case. 

The moral character of each candidate found physically quali¬ 
fied, or who desires to undergo the mental examination notwith¬ 
standing his physical defects, will then be inquired into, and any 
candidate who has not borne a good moral character will be rejected 
and his examination will cease. 

Each candidate who has been found qualified physically and 
morally, or who desires to undergo the mental examination notwith¬ 
standing his physical defects, will then be examined mentally in the 
following subjects, questions being prepared by the board and an¬ 
swers submitted in writing. In the examination of a native of the 
Philippine Islands the. questions will be of such a character as a Fili¬ 
pino of fair education would be expected to know, and, if he prefers, 
the examination may be oral except “writing from dictation.” 

a. English grammar, including orthography, reading, and 

writing from dictation. 

b. In his knowledge of the elementary principles of arith¬ 

metic, and ability to solve such problems only as are 
likely to be useful in the discharge of his duties as a 
company officer. 

c. Geography of North America and the Philippine 

Islands. 

d. The outlines of the history of the United States. 

e. Army Regulations, 


76 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

f. Infantry Drill Regulations. The examination in Drill 
Regulations will be practical, extending through the 
Schools of the Soldier, Squad, and Platoon, and shall 
take place in the presence of the board. 

g. Probable efficiency and aptitude as judged by the 
board from his knowledge of Army and Drill Regu¬ 
lations; his record, if any, in the military or civil 
service, and his conduct and appearance while un¬ 
dergoing examination. In determining his apti¬ 
tude, credit will also be given to him for knowledge 
of the Spanish language or of any of the dialects 
spoken in the Philippine Islands, as demonstrated 
to the board. 

7. In awarding marks, the board will give to each subject in 
the examination the relative weight given in the following form. 
The general average of the candidate will be computed as follows: 
Mark each question according to its relative weight and reduce the 
aggregate of marks thus obtained in each subject to a scale of 100; 
the result will be the percentage of proficiency in the subject. 
Multiply the percentage in each subject by the number indicating 
the relative weight of the subject and divide the sum of the products 
by the sum of the relative weights; the quotient will be the general 
average. No candidate will be passed by the board who shall not 
have attained at least 65 per cent in each subject of the examination 
and a general average of at least 70 per cent. 


Example. 


Subjects. 

Percent¬ 

age. 

Relative 

Weights. 

Products 
of Multipli¬ 
cation by 
Relative 
Weights. 

0 . English Grammar, etc. _ __ 

74 

2 

148 

b. Arithemetic __ _ _ _ _ _ 

68 

2 

136 

c. Geography__ _ _____ 

70 

2 

140 

d. United States History ____ 

65 

2 

130 

e. Army Regulations _ _ _ 

80 

3 

240 

/. Infantry Drill Regulations (practical) 

78 

3 

234 

g. Probable efficiency and aptitude _ 

85 

4 

340 

Total__ 


18 

1,368 

General average-._ 


76 






















United States Military Service. 77 

8. When the board shall have examined and passed upon all 
the applicants, it will prepare separate proceedings in each case and 
forward these with all papers pertaining thereto to the Adjutant 
General of the Army. 

EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION OR REAPPOINTMENT. 

9. Onoe each year, preferably about January 1st, the com¬ 
manding general, Philippines Division, will, under authority of the 
War Department, appoint a board of five officers, two of whom shall 
be medical officers, whose duties will be confined to inquiring into 
and reporting upon the physical qualifications of the officers to be 
examined. The three other members will be officers then serving 
with or who have had service with the Philippine Scouts. 

This board will be directed to visit the station of each officer 
of the Philippine Scouts whose position on the lineal list of his grade 
renders his promotion probable within the calendar year, or whose 
provisional appointment will expire within the calendar year. The 
names and stations of such officers will be communicated to the 
board by the adjutant general, Philippines Division, and each officer 
will be directed to report to the president of the board upon its ar¬ 
rival at his station. Commanding officers will furnish the board 
with facilities for conducting the examination prescribed below. 

Each officer indicated above will be examined in the manner 
prescribed by General Orders, No. 14, War Department, 1912, for 
the examination of officers of the Regular Army for promotion, 
with the following exceptions: 

Witnesses need not be summoned from a distance, but will be 
heard if they voluntarily come to the station or live near the station 
where the board is conducting an examination. 

If the number of members is reduced by challenge or otherwise, 
the board will continue its examination of an officer as long as two 
members other than the medical officers remain. 

The papers referred to in General Orders, No. 14, War Depart¬ 
ment, 1912, will be forwarded to the board by the adjutant general, 
Philippines Divisioq. 

In addition to consideration of written testimony as to an 
officer’s general efficiency, the board will visit the command with 
which the officer being examined is on duty, and examine into the 
administration, instruction, and discipline of any troops lately under 
his command, or investigate the method of discharge of any duty 
lately rendered as a staff officer, if he have no command. 


78 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

The quantity of field service had and manner in which such duty 
has been rendered, and any recommendations by his superiors for 
distinguished service, will be considered. 

The professional examination will be oral and practical, no 
written examination being conducted. No lists of questions will be 
furnished the board from the War Department. In reporting the 
examination of an officer for reappointment, the board will report 
whether or not in its opinion the officer should be reappointed at the 
expiration of his provisional appointment or should be discharged, 
either then or as of an earlier date, in the interest of the Service; 
and in reporting the examination of an officer whose promotion is 
not recommended, the board will report whether or not in its opinion 
the officer should be discharged on the date when vacancy to which 
he would otherwise be entitled to be promoted occurs or as of an ear¬ 
lier date. One copy of the proceedings in the case of each officer exam¬ 
ined will, after action thereon by the commanding general, Philip¬ 
pines Division, be forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army. 

PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION FOR OFFICERS 
OF PHILIPPINE SCOUTS. 

io. For promotion from second lieutenant to first lieutenant, 
or for reappointment as second lieutenant: 

a. Administration. 

(1) Army Regulations and general orders of the War De¬ 

partment and of the Philippines Division, as far as 
knowledge thereof is essential to the correct dis¬ 
charge of the duties of an officer of Philippine Scouts. 

(2) Explanation of the methods of conducting company 

administration and preparation of the necessary re¬ 
ports, returns, and requisitions. 

b. Infantry Drill Regulations. 

Practical demonstration of the ability of the officer to 
instruct and command a company of Infantry. 

c. Manual of Interior Guard Duty. 

Duties of the commanding officer, officer of the day, officer 
of the guard, and various enlisted members of the guard. 

d. Small-Arms Firing Regulations. 

Sufficiently extended to determine whether the officer is 
able to instruct a company and to render the necessary re¬ 
ports and make the appropriate entries on muster-rolls and 
pay-rolls, 



United States Military Service. 79 

e. Spanish, or any dialect spoken in the Philippine Islands. 

(1) A test of the officer’s ability to translate at sight, to and 

from English, a brief letter or newspaper article. 

(2) His ability to converse and make himself understood in 

Spanish or the dialect selected by him in lieu thereof. 

11. For promotion from first lieutenant to captain, or for re¬ 
appointment as captain or first lieutenant. 

a. Administration. 

b. Infantry Drill Regulations. I Same as for second 

c. Manual of Interior Guard Duty, j lieutenants." 

d. Small-Arms Firing Regulations. J 

e. Field Service Regulations. 

Sufficiently extended to ascertain if the officer is familiar 
with the duties of security and information, preparation of 
field orders, combat action of a company of Infantry, recon¬ 
naissance, marches, and transfer of troops by rail or water. 

/. Military Law. 

(1) Manual of Courts-Martial from beginning to include 

the chapter on “Inferior Courts-Martial.” 

(2) Preparation of charges and specifications and reports of 

cases tried by summary courts-martial. 

g. Spanish, or any dialect spoken in the Philippine Islands. 

(Same as for second lieutenants.) 

12. An officer who is ordered to report for examination for 
promotion, and who in the preceding year has successfully passed 
the examination for reappointment herein prescribed, shall be ex¬ 
cused from the prescribed mental examination. 

13. The examination of officers of Philippine Scouts not being 
governed by the Act of Congress approved October 1, 1890, a fail¬ 
ure by any such officer to pass the physical examination prescribed 
above does not confer a right to retirement, nor does failure to 
pass the professional examination prescribed above confer a right to 
re-examination at any future time. 

FORM FOR INDIVIDUAL RECORD OF CANDIDATE. 

1. Give the exact date and place of your birth. 

2. Are you married or single? 

3. Are you a citizen of the United States or of the Philippine 

Islands? If so, state whether native-born or naturalized. 


80 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

4. What schools have you attended and for what periods? An¬ 

swer explicitly, giving dates and designations of schools, as 
public schools, academies, district schools, colleges, manual 
training schools, night schools, etc. Give also names and 
present addresses of presidents, superintendents, comman¬ 
dants, principals, professors, or teachers under the super¬ 
vision of whom you were while attending schools, academies, 
colleges, etc. 

5. In what profession, or occupation have you been employed? 

Answer explicitly, giving time, character of employment, etc. 

6. During what time have you supported yourself, totally or 

partially, by your own labor? 

7. Have you ever served in the Volunteers or organized Militia, 

or as a cadet at the United States Military Academy? An¬ 
swer explicitly, giving State, arm of Service, rank, etc. 

8. State concisely your service in the Regular Army, or in the 

Philippine Scouts, giving organizations in which you have 
served and names of officers under whom you have served, 
with periods of such service (as near as possible) in each case. 

9. State the places of your residence since your twelfth birthday, 

giving dates between which you resided at each place. 

10. State the name and present address of each person by whom 
you were employed since your twelfth birthday, giving in 
each instance the nature of the employment and the dates 
of its beginning and ending. 


[Signature, with full name, rank, etc.] 

Sworn to and subscribed before me the __day of_ 

A. D. 19_ 





United States Military Service. 


81 


CHAPTER VII. 


Appointment to the Grade of Third Lieutenant in the 
Philippine Constabulary. 

DUTIES OF CONSTABULARY OFFICERS. 

The Constabulary is the armed civil police force of the Govern¬ 
ment of the Philippine Islands, established apd administered under 
the general supervision of the Governor General for the purpose of 
maintaining order, preventing and detecting crime, and enforcing 
the laws. 

It consists of about 325 commissioned officers and 5,000 men. 
The companies are scattered at different points where needed 
throughout the entire Archipelago. The work required of the offi¬ 
cers is of a high character and demands much energy, tact, and 
ability to be successfully performed. 

In addition to the training and instruction of their men, the 
officers have a great deal of civil and political work of an important 
character. They must also be prepared to take the field, and their 
duties in suppressing brigandage involve at times field-work of the 
greatest difficulty and danger. 

The work of Constabulary officers brings them into close contact 
with the people, and can not fail to be interesting and instructive. 

Upon appointment, officers are assigned for three months to 
the Constabulary School, which is situated at Baguio, Benguet 
Province, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet above sea-level, where 
the climate is at all times cool. 

PAY OF CONSTABULARY OFFICERS. 

Salaries paid Constabulary officers, in United States currency. 


are as follows: 

Colonel and Assistant Director-$3>5oo 

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Director-2,750 

Major, staff duty- 2,500 

Major_2,000 

Captain_$1,600 and 1,800 

First Lieutenant_ 1,400 

Second Lieutenant- 1,200 

Third Lieutenant_ i,ioq 











82 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

Officers are, in addition, furnished quarters or given an allow¬ 
ance for same. 

Officers who qualify in speaking and reading one of the native 
Filipino dialects, or in speaking the Moro dialect and reading it 
from Arabic characters, are allowed $50 per year extra compen¬ 
sation. Officers are also allowed 10 per cent additional to their 
salary for each five years’ service, provided that the increase under 
this head does not exceed 40 per cent. 

COST OF LIVING. 

In Manila the cost is determined largely by the manner of 
living. Living in families or in messes costs from $30.00 to $40.00 
per month. The cost of living in the provinces is generally less than 
in Manila. The uniforms for Constabulary officers are made of 
light khaki cloth for service and white duck or drill for dress wear, 
the same materials that are used by the Regular Army in the 
tropics. Such clothing is very cheap, in Manila and is made to 
order for about $6.00 per suit. Arms, except swords, are supplied 
by the Government. A full outfit of uniforms, hats, caps, leggings, 
puttees, etc., may be obtained in Manila for about $85.00. A 
considerable quantity of very light-weight underclothing should be 
brought by those coming from America. 

APPOINTMENTS, LEAVES OF ABSENCE, ETC. 

Appointments are made to the grade of third lieutenant as 
vacancies occur. All appointees must agree to serve at least three 
years. Examinations of applicants are held at present in the Phil¬ 
ippine Islands only, and appointments in the United States are made 
only from among young men who are graduates of colleges and 
universities, who are admitted without examination upon recom¬ 
mendation of the faculty, and on application to the Chief of the 
Bureau of Insular Affairs, War Department, Washington, D. C v 

The manner in which promotions are made in the Constabulary 
renders it possible for successful men to go up otherwise than by 
seniority. 

All promotions to the grade of captain and the grades above 
are made by selecting officers of the grade next below the one to 
which appointment is made, who, by the character of their work, 
have demonstrated their superior fitness for the responsibilities and 
duties of the Constabulary. Promotions in the lower grades are 
made usually, two by seniority and one by selection. 


United States Military Service. 83 

The laws of the Philippine Government allow a vacation leave 
with full pay of twenty-eight days annually. In addition to the 
vacation leave, an employee of the Philippine Government who has 
served at least two years is allowed leave from thirty to thirty-five 
days a year, depending upon the salary he receives, to visit the 
United States. This leave may be allowed to accrue for five years, 
so as to obtain a longer leave to visit the United States. In such 
case, full pay is allowed and an additional two months on half-pay 
given as travel-time for going and returning. A person in the 
United States appointed for service in the Philippines may pay his 
traveling expenses to Manila, or they may be paid by the Chief of 
the Bureau of Insular Affairs, War Department, Washington, D. C. 
Half-salary is allowed from the time of embarkation and full pay 
from the day following the date of arrival in the Islands. This half¬ 
salary during transit is retained and paid after the expiration of 
two years’ satisfactory service in the Islands. The actual and 
necessary traveling expenses are refunded at the expiration of two 
years if the employee comes by the route and steamer directed, and 
pays his own expenses out, being careful to keep receipts therefor. 

CLIMATE. 

There is continuous warm weather in the Philippine Islands, 
but the heat is not intense, and the general health of Americans 
who take reasonable care of themselves is good. During the greater 
part of the year Americans suffer less from the heat than during the 
summer months in many parts of the United States. From April 
to July is the hottest period; from July to October there are fre¬ 
quent rains which cool the atmosphere, and from November to 
April the weather is, as a rule, clear and pleasant. The nights 
during this period are cool—in fact, the nights are generally pleas¬ 
ant during the entire year, with the exception, possibly, of two or 
three months. 

EXAMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS IN THE 
CONSTABULARY. 

TIME AND PEACE. 

The dates and places for holding examinations will be an¬ 
nounced from time to time by the Director of Constabulary. 


8 4 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

qualifications. 

1. No person will be appointed who is under 21 or over 33 
years of age; who is not a citizen of the United States, or who is 
not a native of the Philippine Islands, or a person who has, under 
and by virtue of the Treaty of Paris, acquired the rights of a native 
of the Philippine Islands; who is not physically qualified to dis¬ 
charge all the duties of an officer in active service; who has any 
deformity of the body, or mental infirmity; or whose moral habits 
are not good. 

2. A candidate who has been graduated at a regularly incor¬ 
porated college or university may be appointed without mental 
examination on presentation of a diploma, together with a recom¬ 
mendation of the faculty of the institution, and with full and sat¬ 
isfactory evidence as to mental capacity, moral character, personal 
habits, and occupation since graduation. 

3. Every candidate appearing will be subjected to a rigid phys¬ 
ical examination, which will conform to the standard required for 
officers of the United States Army; applicants for appointment from 
the United States must include in their papers a certificate of phys¬ 
ical examination by a physician, which will embrace the information 
required by the form for the examination of recruits. 

4. All applicants except those specified in paragraph 2 above 
will be examined as outlined herein. No candidate will be exam¬ 
ined unless he has the authority of the Director of Constabulary 
to appear for examination; and in the case of a soldier in the United 
States Army, the authority of the Division Commander. 

5. The examination of candidates will include the following 
subjects and will be written under the first five sub-heads: 

(1) Grammar, including spelling and writing from oral 

dictation. 

(2) Arithmetic, including the application of its rules to 

all practical questions. 

(3) Geography, with reference to the general geography 

of the world—the principal physical and political 
divisions of the earth’s surface. 

(4) History, including the elements and outlines of gen¬ 

eral history, and particularly the history of the 
United States. 

(5) Constitutional law, including the elements of the 

Constitution of the United States and the main 
principles upon which the Government under it is 
organized. 


United States Military Service. 85 

(6) Examination will be made also as to the general qual¬ 

ifications of each applicant, including aptitude and 
probable efficiency as an officer of the Constabulary. 
The military record of an applicant who is or has 
been a soldier, as certified to by his company and 
post commanders, will be considered under this 
sub-head. In the case of an applicant who is or has 
been recently a soldier in the Army, a portion of 
the examination under this sub-head will be a prac¬ 
tical test in the drill regulations of the arm in which 
he has served and oral questions in the main prin¬ 
ciples of the Army administration and discipline. 

(7) Physical aptitude, as determined by medical exam¬ 

ination or other evidence submitted. 

(8) Careful inquiry will be made concerning the ante¬ 

cedents, personal habits, and moral character of 
each applicant, who must submit evidence from rep¬ 
utable persons. Candidates will not be graded un¬ 
der this head, but those whose habits or associations 
are not up to the standard, or who are addicted 
to the use of intoxicants, will be reported as not 
suitable for appointment. 

6. In awarding marks, the relative weights will be given to 
each subject as in the form below. The general average of a candi¬ 
date will be computed as follows: Each question will be marked 
according to its relative weight, and the aggregate marks thus ob¬ 
tained in each subject reduced to a scale of 100; the result will give 
the average proficiency in the subject. The average in each subject 
will be multiplied by the number indicating the relative weight of 
the subject and the sum of the products divided by the sum of the 
relative weights; the quotient will be the general average. No can¬ 
didate will be passed who shall not have obtained an average of 65 
per cent in each subject and a general average of at least 70 per cent. 


86 Aspirants for Commissions in the 


Example. 


No. 

Subjects. 

Averages. 

Relative 

Weights. 

Products 
of Multipli¬ 
cation by 
Relative 
Weights. 

1 

English Grammar_ 

82 

3 

246 

2 

Mathematics___ 

76 

4 

304 

3 

Geography .. 

80 

2 

160 

4 

History _ __ 

73 

3 

219 

5 

Constitutional Law. 

65 

2 

130 

6 

Aptitude and probable efficiency 

80 

5 

400 

7 

Physique___ 

87 

3 

261 


Total __ _ 


22 

1.720 


General average,_ _ 



78.17 


7. Where several candidates are examined, the order of rela¬ 
tive merit of all will be reported. Candidates who pass the exam¬ 
ination and are recommended for appointment will be placed upon 
an eligible list, and will be appointed as vacancies occur should 
there not be sufficient vacancies at the time. 

RULES FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. Many competitors fail to pass an examination not through 
lack of knowledge, but owing to haste and carelessness in reading 
and interpreting questions and in writing answers. The time al¬ 
lowed for each examination is amply sufficient for competitors to 
complete it by using a reasonable degree of intelligence and appli¬ 
cation to work, and it can not be extended in individual cases, as, 
for instance, where a competitor devotes so much time to the work 
of one subject that he can not complete the remaining subjects 
within the prescribed time. 

2. Unless otherwise stated, competitors are not limited in 
time on any one sheet, but should gauge their work on each sheet so 
as to complete all work within the limit prescribed for the entire 
examination. 

3. Competitors are not permitted to leave the room, if pos¬ 
sible to avoid it, with a sheet unfinished, and such sheets are taken 
up and not returned. 

4. An examination sheet spoiled can not be exchanged for 
another of the same kind. 

























United States Military Service. 87 

5. All work on examination sheets is required to be done 
in ink. 

6. Pencil and scratch-paper may be used in preliminary work. 

7. The use of blank paper, other than that furnished by the 
examiner in charge, is not permitted; on completion of an examin¬ 
ation sheet, the blank paper pertaining thereto is handed in with it. 
All work, however, must be on the examination sheet, as the blank 
paper is collected, not for consideration in the rating, but for 
destruction. 

8. No helps of any kind are allowed. Before the examination 
is commenced, any written or printed matter that any candidate 
may have which might, if used, aid in his work must be turned 
over to the examiner. Making copies of questions or of any por¬ 
tion of the examination for the purpose of taking the same from the 
room is prohibited. 

9. All conversation or communication between competitors 
during the examination is strictly prohibited. 

10. All necessary explanations will be made to the whole class. 

11. Copies of examination papers or examination questions 
must be handed in with the answers and must not be taken from 
the room. 

N. B.—A violation of the instructions may be deemed sufficient 
cause for canceling papers and for refusal to admit competitors 
to any other examination. Competitors are requested to report to 
the examiner any irregularity that may come under their notice 
during the examination. 

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMINATIONS. 

Following are descriptions of some of the examinations which 
are held. As an aid to applicants in arriving at a proper under¬ 
standing of the scope of the different examinations, specimen ques¬ 
tions and exercises are given. These particular questions and ex¬ 
ercises will not, of course, be used in the examination of applicants, 
but are intended simply to show the degree of difficulty of the 
subjects in the different examinations. 

GRAMMAR, INCLUDING SPELLING. 

[Time allowed, three hours.] 

The following are specimen questions and tests in this examina¬ 
tion. The words in spelling are dictated by the examiner and re¬ 
quired to be written by the competitor in the blank spaces indicated 


88 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

on the first sheet of the examination. The examiner pronounces 
each word and gives its definition. The competitor is required to 
write only the words, and not the definition. The words should 
begin with capital letters. 

1. Asylum —A charitable institution; as, an asylum for the 

deaf. 

2. Philippines —The name of a group of islands. 

3. Qualify —To become fit; as, to qualify for office. 

4. Changing —Causing a change; as, changing a schedule. 

5. Competition —The act of competing; competition in an 

examination. 

6. Physical —Relative to physique or nature; as, physical 

geography. 

7. Concede —To give up or surrender; as, to concede a point. 

8. Collectible—T hat which may be collected; as, a col¬ 

lectible bill. 

9. Minimum —The least quantity. 

10. Reference —The act of referring; a reference in a letter. 

11 . Comparative —Estimated by comparison. 

12. Erase —To rub out. 

13. Forfeit—T o surrender; to give up. 

14. Circumference —The line which bounds a circle. 

15. Imperative —That which is urgent; expressing command. 

16. Preference —Having a choice; being preferred. 

17. Defendant —A defender; as, the defendant in the action. 

18. Citation —The act of citing or quoting. 

19. Villain —A vile person; a knave; a scoundrel. 

20 . Civilization —The state of being civilized. 

DICTATION. 

The examiner will read slowly and clearly about fifteen lines 
of very simple standard prose, which the competitors will be required 
to write down directly, in ink, on the examination sheet which 
they are to turn in. This will give a test as to their qualifications 
in handwriting, punctuation, and the use of capitals. 

Write the plurals of the following words: (1) Motto; (2) mon¬ 
ey; (3) belief; (4) axis; (5) man-of-war. 

Write the feminine forms of the following: (1) Hero; (2) mur¬ 
derer; (3) emperor. 

Write the possessive case of the following: (1) Men; (2) it; 
(3) boys. 


United States Military Service. 89 

Give the principal parts (present tense, past tense, and past 
participle) of the following verbs: (1) Chose; (2) fly; (3) sit; 
(4) freeze. 

Correct errors in the following sentences: 

1. It was not her that did it. 

2. Who do you take him to be? 

3. He surely don’t expect us to do it. 

4. Neither by you nor he was it considered necessary. 

5. How do you know when its coming? 

6. Two fatal errors underlaid his theory. 

7. Except you go with us, I shall stay at home. 

8. Are either of those places marked on the map? 

Define the following: (1) Personal pronoun; (2) conjunction. 

Parse the italicized words in the following sentence: 

Other things being equal, it is obvious that the writer who has 
the most words to chose from is most likely to find in his assortment 
just the word which he needs at a given moment. 

arithmetic. 

[Time allowed, three hours.] 

1. This test is one of adding columns of numbers crosswise 
and lengthwise. 

2. Divide 478.82 by 25 3-5, multiply the quotient by 1,416^, 
and from the product subtract of 1,789.305. 

3. A man who inherited a fortune spent one-fourth of it in 
three months, three-sevenths of the remainder in ten months, when 
he had only $7,572 left. How much did he inherit. 

4. A farmer sent to his commission merchant 96 tons of hemp 
and instructed him to sell it and invest the proceeds in farm supplies, 
deducting his commission for selling the hemp and buying the sup¬ 
plies. He sold the hemp for $7 7.00 a ton and deducted 4 per cent 
as his commission for selling. He then bought farm supplies, de¬ 
ducting 5 per cent of the cost of the supplies for his commission. 
What was the value of the supplies purchased? 

5. On April 7th a merchant desires to obtain $1,440. For 
how much must he give his note due ;September 14th, without in¬ 
terest or days of grace, to obtain the required sum when discounted 
at a bank at the rate of 9 per cent per annum? 

6. Find the greatest common divisor of 26^4, 28%, 29%. 

7. How many men would be required to cultivate a field of 



90 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


2acres in days of io hours each if each man completed 77 
square yards in 9 hours? 

8. Divide $7.75 among 5 boys and 4 girls, giving each boy 
three-fourths as much as each girl. 

9. If 8 men spend $32.00 in 15 weeks, how much will 56 men, 
at the same rate, spend in a year? 

10. Simplify: 

2 ^- 1 ^ 


--- Vz X •/» 

2 /fi x (X — J A) 


GEOGRAPHY. 

[Time allowed, two hours.] 

1. Name, in order, the political divisions of South America 
that border on the Pacific Ocean. 

2. Name the bodies of water surrounding Europe. 

3. Locate the following cities: (<z) Vienna; ( b ) Nanking; 
(c) Bombay; ( d ) Sydney. 

4. Name the principal mountain ranges crossed in going by 
rail from New York to San Francisco; state the rail route assumed 
and States through which it passes. 

5. What are the qualifications for a good harbor? Name 
three good harbors on the Atlantic Coast and one on the Pacific 
Coast. 

6. Where is Thibet? 

7. Bound Italy. 

8. What waters are traversed in going by steamer from Ma¬ 
nila to New York via Suez Canal? 

9. Bound the State of Iowa. 

10. Locate the following islands: (a) Formosa; (6) New Zea¬ 
land; (c) Borneo; ( d ) Java. 


history. 

[Time allowed, two horns.] 

1. What were the differential characteristics between the 
people of the Virginia and Massachusetts Colonies at the beginning 
of the Revolution? 

2. What political parties were formed soon after the election 
of Washington as President? 

3. Tell the story of the annexation of Texas. 



United States Military Service. 91 

4. Give the territorial boundaries of the United States as set 
forth in the treaty of 1873. 

5. Explain the struggle in Congress which led to the passage 
of the bill called the “Missouri Compromise.” 

6. Discuss the battle of Gettysburg and its result. 

7. Who were the Pilgrims? 

8. Where did each of the following events occur? 

(a) Meeting of the first Colonial Congress. 

(&) Burgoyne’s surrender. 

(c) Arnold’s treason. 

9. What was the character of the Spartan people and the 
nature of their government? 

10. What was the nature of the early government of Rome? 

11. Who was Augustus Caesar? What were the principal 
events in his career? 

12. Who was Oliver Cromwell, and what did he establish? 

13. When and under what circumstances was the new German 
Empire founded? 


constitutional law. 

[Time allowed, two hours.] 

1. Into what branches is the Government of the United 
States divided? 

2. Give an outline of the judicial system of the United States. 

3. What are the constitutional requirements as to the election 
of President and Vice-President? 

4. Explain what is meant by the veto power of the President. 

5. How is the power of the President to appoint Federal, 
civil, or military officers limited and regulated? 

6. What is the term of office of a United States senator? Of 
a member of Congress? 

7. How are United States senators chosen? How are mem- 
besr of Congress chosen? 

8. How often does Congress meet? 

9. Explain what is meant by freedom of speech and of the 

press. 

10. What is meant by religious liberty? 

n. What does the Constitution say about impairing the ob¬ 
ligation of contracts? 

12. What is meant by “due process of law”? 


92 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


FORM OF THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF AN APPLICANT. 


Name. 

Age. 

Birthday. 

Birthplace. 

Occupation. 

Residence. 

What sickness have you had, 
and at what age? 

Nationality of father. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

If either parent has died, state 
cause. 

If brother or sister has died, 
state cause. 

Have you found your health or 
habits to interfere with your 
success in civil life? 

Are you subject— 

To dizziness? 

To severe headache? 

To pain in the breast? 

To fluttering of the heart? 

To shortness of breath? 

To cold in the head? 

To coughs? 

To diarrhea? 

To piles? 

To rheumatism? 

Do you believe you are sound 
and well now? 

Is your sense of hearing good? 


Have you been ruptured? 

Do you drink intoxicating li¬ 
quors? If so, to what extent? 
Have you had— 

Sore eyes or any defect of 
vision? 

Running from either ear? 
Fits? If so, how frequently? 
Gonorrhea, and when? 

A sore of any kind upon your 
penis, and when? 

Any swelling about or of your 
testicles? 

A boil near the anus (fistula) ? 
A sprain? 

A stiff joint? 

A bone or joint out of place? 
A bone broken? 

Have you been hurt upon the 
head? (Answer fully.) 

Are you subject to painful corns 
or sore feet? 

Mention, carefully, injuries or 
surgical operations you may 
have had upon any part of 
your body, especially bums, 
cuts, severe bruises, etc. 

Give the names and addresses of 
persons dependent upon you 
for support. 

Applicant. 


PHYSICAL EXAMINATION (APPLICANT BEING STRIPPED) TO BE MADE 
BY A MEDICAL EXAMINER. 


Figure and general appearance. 
Weight. 

Height. 

Hearing. 

Chest and contained organs. 


Mobility. 

Abdomen and contained organs. 
Genito-urinary apparatus. 
Expiration. 

Inspiration. 



United States Military Service. 93 

Upper extremities. Skin. 

Lower extremities. Remarks. 

I certify that I have carefully examined the above-named 
person and that he has no mental or physical defect disqualifying 
him for service in the Philippines Constabulary. 

Place,-. Date,-. 

When stripped, examine carefully the head, ears, eyes (par¬ 
ticularly for color-blindness and visual defects due to errors of re¬ 
fraction), nose, mouth (especially teeth, hard palate, and tonsils), 
neck (especially for enlarged glands). Chest: Shape (flat or pigeon- 
breasted), resonance, character of respiration. Heart: Sounds, im¬ 
pulse (position and force), action (as to regularity). Spine, abdo¬ 
men (especially for hernia and enlarged glands in the groin), genito¬ 
urinary apparatus, anus (especially for fistula), upper extremities 
(especially for enlarged glands at the elbows), lower extremities, 
and skin. 




94 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Commissions in Volunteer Forces Which May Hereafter 
Be Organized. 

act of congress making provision for “eligible” list.-BOARDS 

FOR THE EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS.-QUALIFICATIONS OF 

APPLICANTS.-APPLICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION. — ORGANIZA¬ 

TION OF EXAMINING BOARDS.—THE EXAMINATION; INFANTRY; 

cavalry; ‘FIELD artillery; coast artillery; engineers; 
signal corps; adjutant general’s department; inspect¬ 
or general’s department; quartermaster’s DEPARTMENT; 

SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT; ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT; MEDICAL 
DEPARTMENT; PAY DEPARTMENT; judge-advocate general’s 
department. 

The trying experiences of the authorities during the organiza¬ 
tion of the Volunteer Army for the Spanish-American War, and for 
the insurrection in the Philippines, are well known To every person 
who makes any pretense of knowledge of military matters. A great 
many appointments to volunteer commissions of officers possessing 
little, if any, qualifications for the positions sought and secured 
were, with slight question, forced by irresistible political influences. 
The system was alike annoying to the authorities possessing the ap¬ 
pointive power, as well as to those whose endorsements were so 
eagerly sought, and in many cases, because of political obligations, 
were difficult to refuse, even though the applicant had few quali¬ 
fications for the office. 

This does not mean to say that no meritorious appointments 
were made, for there were—in fact, in spite of the system, the se¬ 
lections in by far more than a majority of cases were excellent, and 
the subsequent events on the field of battle and in the mobilization 
camps and garrisons developed many excellent soldiers from these 
selections. 

There really was no law on the statute-books that effectually 
provided for a contingency such as was confronted, and the very 
best was made of conditions then existing. The law-making branch 
of the Government learned its lesson from the war, as well as that 
branch of the executive part of the Government which does the 
fighting—the Army. Our peace policy and eternal trust in the 



United States Military Service. 95 

Guardian Angel had for many years drawn the attention of Con¬ 
gress to matters of commercial welfare of the country from the 
probabilities of war and the necessary preparation for such an 
emergency. 

1 he lessons of the war were well taught, and the scholars were 
very apt, and no sooner had the peace protocol been signed, than 
drafts of bills looking to the reorganization of our military forces, 
and systems and methods for future organization of armies, were 
presented for enactment to our national Congress. 

The result was, and is, a better Army, a better Navy, a better 
National Guard (organized Militia), and a tangible system for the 
organization of future volunteer armies. An Act of Congress, ap¬ 
proved January 21, 1903, entitled “An Act to promote the effi¬ 
ciency of the Militia, and for other purposes,” contains the follow¬ 
ing section, which forms the. basis of securing an eligible list for the 
officering of any volunteer force or forces which may hereafter be 
called into the service of the United States. 

ACT OF CONGRESS MAKING PROVISIONS 
FOR ELIGIBLE LIST. 

“Section 23. That, for the purpose of securing a list of per¬ 
sons specially qualified to hold commissions in any volunteer force 
which may hereafter be called for and organized under the authority 
of Congress, other than a force composed of organized Militia, the 
Secretary of War is authorized, from time to time, to convene 
boards of officers at suitable and convenient Army posts in different 
parts of the United States, who shall examine as to their qualifica¬ 
tions for the command of troops or for the performance of staff du¬ 
ties all applicants who shall have served in the Regular Army of the 
United States, in any of the volunteer forces of the United States, 
or in the organized Militia of any State or Territory or District of 
Columbia, or who, being a citizen of the United States, shall have 
attended or pursued a regular course of instruction in any military 
school or college of the United States Army, or shall have graduated 
from any educational institution to which an officer of the Army or 
Navy has been detailed as superintendent or professor pursuant to 
law after having creditably pursued the course of military instruc¬ 
tion therein provided. Such examinations shall be under rules and 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War, and shall be espe¬ 
cially directed to ascertain the practical capacity of the applicant, 


96 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

The record of previous service of the applicant shall be considered 
as a part of the examination. Upon the conclusion of each exam¬ 
ination, the board shall certify to the War Department its judgment 
as to the fitness of the applicant, stating the office, if any, which it 
deems him qualified to fill, and, upon approval by the President, 
the names of the persons certified to be qualified shall be inscribed 
in a register to be kept in the War Department for that purpose. 
The persons so certified and registered shall, subject to a physical 
examination at the time, constitute an eligible class for commis¬ 
sions pursuant to such certificates in any volunteer force hereafter 
called for and organized under the authority of Congress, other than 
a force composed of organized Militia, and the President may 
authorize persons from this class, to attend and pursue a regular 
course of study at any military school or college of the United States 
other than the Military Academy at West Point and to receive from 
the annual appropriation for the support of the Army the same 
allowances and commutations as provided in this Act for officers of 
the organized Militia: Provided, That no person shall be entitled to 
receive a commission as a second lieutenant after he shall have 
passed the age of thirty; as first lieutenant after he shall have passed 
the age of thrity-five; as captain after he shall have passed the age 
of forty; as major after he shall have passed the age of forty-five; 
as lieutenant-colonel after he shall have passed the age of fifty; or 
as colonel after he shall have passed the age of fifty-five: And pro¬ 
vided further, That such appointments shall be distributed propor¬ 
tionately, as near as may be, among the various States contributing 
such volunteer force: And provided, That the appointments in this 
section provided for shall not be deemed to include appointments to 
any office in any company, troop, battery, battalion, or regiment of 
the organized Militia which volunteers as a body or the officers of 
which are appointed by the governor of a State or Territory.” 

BOARDS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS. 

Boards for the examination of applicants for commissions in 
volunteer forces will be appointed by the Secretary of War, and 
will consist of five commissioned officers of the Regular Army of 
the United States, including two medical officers and a recorder. 
The duties of the medical officers will be confined to inquiry into 
and report upon the physical condition of the applicants. 

In the case of applications for examination as to fitness for 
commission as medical officers of Volunteers, the board shall consist 


United States Military Service. 97 

of three medical officers of the Regular Army, the junior acting as 
recorder. 

The proceedings of the boards will be forwarded to the Adjutant 
General of the Army. 

QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANTS. 

No applicant will be examined who is not a citizen of the 
United States or has not declared his intention to become such; 
who, in the judgment of the board, is not physically qualified to 
discharge all the duties of an officer in active service; who has any 
mental infirmity or deformity of body, or whose moral fitness has 
not been clearly established; who shall be less than twenty-one 
years of age, or who, being an applicant for commission as second 
lieutenant, shall be more than thirty, as first lieutenant more than 
thirty-five, as captain more than forty, as major more than forty- 
five, as lieutenant-colonel more than fifty, or as colonel more than 
fifty-five years of age. 

APPLICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

No person shall be examined unless he has a letter from the 
War Department authorizing his examination. 

If an applicant has served in the Regular Army of the United 
States, or in any of the volunteer forces of the United States, or in 
the organized Militia of any State or Territory or the District of 
Columbia, he shall submit his discharge papers for each term of 
service; if still in service in any of the organizations mentioned, 
he shall submit recommendations of his immediate and higher 
commanders. 

If an applicant has attended or pursued a regular course of in¬ 
struction in any military school or college of the United States 
Army, or has graduated from any educational institution to which 
an officer of the Army or Navy has been detailed as superintendent 
or professor pursuant to law, he shall be required to present the 
diploma or certificate of graduation from such military school, 
college, or educational institution. 

Applications for examination, accompanied by recommenda¬ 
tions and other documents of a commendatory character as above 
indicated, should be made to the adjutant general of the State, 
Territory, or District of Columbia, according to the legal residence 
of the applicant, in the month of May or November, to the end 
that the governor of the State or Territory, or the commanding 


98 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

general of the National Guard of the District of Columbia, may 
forward the accumulated applications, with his recommendations 
in each case indorsed thereon, to the Adjutant General of the Army 
about January ist and July ist of each year: Provided, That per¬ 
sons who have served in the Regular Army or Navy of the United 
States, or in the United States Volunteers, shall be authorized to 
send their applications and the papers therewith to the Adjutant 
General of the Army. 

ORGANIZATION OF EXAMINING BOARDS. 

The organization of the boards shall conform to that of re¬ 
tiring boards, the recorder swearing the several members, including 
the medical officers, faithfully and impartially to examine and re¬ 
port upon the applicant about to be examined, and the president 
of the board then swearing the recorder to the faithful performance 
of his duty. Separate proceedings shall be made for each case. 

Medical officers shall not take part in the professional exam¬ 
ination except on boards composed exclusively of medical officers. 
They shall make the necessary physical examination of all appli¬ 
cants and shall submit to the president of the board their opinions 
in writing. All questions relating to the physical condition of 
applicants shall be determined by the full board. 

All public proceedings shall be in the presence of the applicant 
under examination; the conclusions reached and the recommend¬ 
ations entered will be regarded as confidential. 

THE EXAMINATION. 

Every applicant will be subjected to a rigid physical examina¬ 
tion, which shall include the ordinary analysis of the urine, and if 
there be found to exist any cause of disqualification which might 
in the future impair his efficiency as an officer of Volunteers, he will 
be rejected. Defects of vision resulting from errors of refraction 
which are not excessive, and which may be entirely corrected by 
glasses, do not di qualify unless they are due to or are accompanied 
by organic disease. The board will be required to report concerning 
each applicant whether he is of good moral character and not ad¬ 
dicted to the use of intoxicating liquors or drugs. Examination 
as to physical qualifications will conform to the standard required 
of recruits for the United States Army, and will include a certificate, 
to accompany the proceedings of the board, of physical examina- 


United States Military Service. 99 

tion by two medical officers, which certificate will embrace all the 
information required in the form for the examination of recruits. 

Before proceeding with the physical examination, the applicant 
about to be examined shall be required to submit, for the informa¬ 
tion of the board, a certificate as to his physical condition. In case 
no cause for disqualification exists, the certificate shall take the 
following form: 

“I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, I am 
not affected with any form of disease or disability which would 
interfere with the performance of the duties under the commission 
for which I am undergoing examination.” 

When the board finds an applicant physically incapacitated for 
service, it shall conclude the examination by finding and reporting 
the cause which, in its judgment, has produced the disability. 

Whenever, for any cause, the board finds an applicant dis¬ 
qualified for commission, the record shall contain a full statement 
of the case. 

When the board finds an applicant qualified for commission, 
the fact shall be stated in the following form: 

“The board is of the opinion that_has the phys¬ 

ical, moral, and professional qualifications to perform efficiently 

all the duties of*_, and recommends that he be commissioned 

as such in the Volunteers.” 

Examinations in all subjects shall be oral or practical, or both, 
with the exceptions hereinafter mentioned. 

If, at the conclusion of the oral examination in any subject, the 
board arrives at the definite opinion that the answers do not indicate 
a degree of proficiency up to the required standard, the applicant 
shall, as soon as practicable, be informed of the decision of the 
board and of his privilege to undergo a written examination in that 
subject; and in case the applicant then signifies his desire to be 
examined in writing, the board shall prepare a set of questions and 
proceed with a written examination of the applicant in that subject 
in the manner hereinafter specified. 

The examinations shall be sufficiently comprehensive in scope 
to test properly the applicant’s knowledge of the whole subject; 
in case of written examinations, the questions and answers shall be 
attached to the proceedings. 

♦Here insert the grade and arm of the Service, or staff corps, or departmen 
for a commission in which the applicant is recommended. 





ioo Aspirants for Commissions in the 

The examination shall he especially directed to ascertain the prac¬ 
tical capacity of the applicant, and the record of previous service of the 
applicant shall he considered as a part of the examination. 

During oral and practical examinations all the members ex¬ 
cepting the medical officers shall be present. 

Written examinations may be conducted in the presence of one 
member of the board, for which purpose the board may be divided 
into committees, before whom the examination shall be conducted 
from day to day until completed; after which the board shall re¬ 
assemble to consider its finding. 

Papers should be given out so that everything in the hands of 
the applicant may be answered before a recess or adjournment. A 
statement showing that such was the procedure during the written 
examinations shall be embodied in the record. In the oral and 
practical examinations, the examining board shall give a numerical 
value to each head under which questions are asked or exercises 
given. In written examinations the board shall give a numerical 
weight (to be previously entered on the margin) to each question, 
and in like manner shall subsequently enter the estimated weight 
of each answer. In all cases, for convenience in calculating per¬ 
centages, the weights of the questions must be such as to aggregate 
ioo or some simple multiple thereof in each oral, written, or practi¬ 
cal examination in each subject. 

Boards are authorized to ask any questions selected from the 
publications recommended for study. Where blackboard or other 
illustrations will facilitate the examinations, their use is authorized. 
Examination will be conducted in a sufficiently exhaustive manner 
to determine not only that the subject is thoroughly comprehended, 
but also to determine the degree of proficiency of the applicant being 
examined, and until the board is positively satisfied as to his ability 
to impart instruction in the various subjects. 

In case of unpropitious weather, practical examinations will 
be postponed from day to day, but never omitted or materially 
curtailed. 

In case of failure in the practical examination in any subject, 
the board will at once proceed with a second practical examination 
of sufficient scope to test properly the applicant’s efficiency. If 
successful upon this second examination, the record shall show that 
he had two practical examinations. In case of failure, an outline 
of the exercises given and the percentages attained in both practical 
examinations will be attached to the record. 


United States Military Service. ioi 

Commanding officers of posts at or in the vicinity of which 
boards may be appointed to meet shall, without further instructions, 
furnish, upon request, such available troops and material as may 
be required by boards in the execution of this order. 

At the conclusion of a written examination, the applicant shall 
be called upon to sign and submit a certificate in his own hand¬ 
writing to the effect that he has not received assistance from any 
unauthorized sources. 

The board shall report in each subject the percentage attained 
in all the examinations, whether oral, written, or practical, and will 
also report the general average of all the subjects. The procedure 
will be as follows: In each subject, mark each question on the 
basis of its weight. Add up the marks and reduce the total to a 
basis of ioo. Then, to determine the general average, assign to 


each subject the relative weight stated below: 

Grammar, etc_I-3 

Arithmetic-3 

Geography_2 

History- 2 

Administration ^-3 

Drill Regulations_4 

Small-Arms Firing Regulations_1 

Field Service Regulations_ 2 

Manual of Guard Duty_3 

Revised Statutes, etc-3 

Military Law___3 

International Law_3 

Hippology-«.---2 

Topography- _i 

Explosives_2 

Electricity (for Coast Artillery)_4 

Mechanical and Electrical Engineering_3 

Field fortifications, mines, demolitions, and explosives_3 

Military bridges-2 

Practical Electricity (for Engineer officers)-2 

Surveying- 2 

Field Artillery material-3 

Reconnaissance_ 3 

Roads___—--2 

Railroads-2 

Animal transportation. 2 




























102 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


Practice of Medicine_4 

Surgery-4 

Military sanitation_4 

Construction, including foundations, building materials, and plant-2 

Duties of Engineer officers and troops in war_3 

Duties of Ordnance officers_3 

Mechanics of Engineering -. -2 

Transportation (Quarterfnast'er’s Department)-2 

Office administration (Subsistence Department) _ •_2 

Bookkeeping (Pay Department) _ i 

Signaling - 2 

Telegraphy and Telephony _ 3 

Construction and installation, engines, etc. (for field officers of 

Signal Corps) _ 2 

Minor Tactics _ 2 

Practical efficiency _,_ 6 


No weights will be assigned to moral character or physical 
condition; they will be reported simply as “satisfactory” or “un¬ 
satisfactory.” 

Multiply the percentage in each subject by the relative weight 
as above given; then divide the sum of the products by the sum 
of the weights. This will give the general average. The method 
is elucidated in the following: 

Example. 


No. 

Subjects. 

Percent¬ 

ages. 

Relative 

Weights. 

Products. 

1 

ELEMENTARY EXAMINATION. 

Grammar, etc_ 

80 

3 

240 

2 

Arithmetic_ _ 

77 

3 

231' 

3 

Geography _ _ _... 

76 

2 

152 

4 

History-__:__ 

81 

2 

162 

5 

PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION. 

Administration_ _ 

70 

3 

210 

6 

Drill Regulations- . 

72 

4 

288 

7 

Field Service Regulations. __ 

71 

2 

142 

8 

Small-Arms Firing Regulations. _ 

68 

1 

68 

9 

Manual of Guard Duty _ 

83 

3 

249 

10 

Military Law__ __ 

90 | 

3 

270 

11 

Topography _ 

75 

1 

75 


Total_ 

General average. ... 


27 

2.087 

77.32 













































United States Military Service. 103 

No applicant shall be passed who fails to receive a general 
average of 70 per cent or more, or who receives less than 65 per cent 
in any subject, be the examination oral, written, or practical. 

The numerous questions which may be formulated by the board 
admit of considerable variation, and make it possible to arrange 
examinations radically different as regards particular questions, 
but essentially the same in respect to scope and character. It is 
desirable that the questions be selected indiscriminately in each 
case, to the end that each applicant undergoing examination may 
have a different arrangement of questions, even when simultaneous 
examinations of a similar character are being conducted. 

Such of the following publications as are applicable are recom¬ 
mended for study by persons preparing for examination: 

Army Regulations. 

Drill Regulations. 

Small-Arms Firing Regulations. 

Manual of Interior Guard Duty. 

Manual for Courts-Martial. 

Field Service Regulations. 

Artillery Circulars. 

General Orders and Circulars. 

Manuals of the Staff Departments. 

Horses, Saddles, and Bridles. Carter. 

Professional Papers No. 29, Corps of Engineers, Engineer 
Field Manual. Leach. 

Organization and Tactics. Wagner' 

A Treatise on the Military Law of the United States. 
Davis. 

General Orders, No. 100, Adjutant General’s Office, 1863. 

Circular No. 65, War Department, 1907. 

Topographical Surveying and Sketching. Rees. 

Instruction pamphlets issued by the Ordnance Department 
bearing on Coast Artillery material. 

Ordnance and Gunnery. Lissak. 

Artillery Notes. 

Military Explosives. Weaver. 

Manual of Field Engineering. Beach. 

Elements of Electrical Engineering (D. C.). Franklin and 
Estey. 

Internal Combustion Engines. Carpenter and Diedrichs. 

Power and Power-Transmission. Kerr. 


104 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

Armor and Ships. Journal United States Artillery. 

Theory and Practice of Surveying. Johnson. 

The Storage Battery. Treadwell. 

Lessons in Practical Electricity. Swoope. 

United States Signal Corps publications. 

United States Torpedo Manual. 

Article on Coast Defense. Journal of the United States 
Artillery, November and December, 1904. 

International Law. Davis. 

General Orders, Nos. 4 and 52, Adjutant General’s Office, 
1902. 

The Service of Security and Information. Wagner. 

Instruction pamphlets issued by the Ordnance Department 
bearing on Field Artillery material. 

Revised Statutes of the United States and Acts of Congress. 

An applicant presenting a diploma from any of the military 
schools of the United States Army or from the United States Naval 
Academy shall be excused, if he so desire, from examination in the 
subjects covered by said diploma, his mark in said subjects being 
rated at 75 per cent of the maximum. 

All applicants, except for positions as company officers of 
Infantry or Coast Artillery, will be required to undergo a practical 
and oral examination in r equitation and in equipment of saddle- 
horses, the scope of which will be sufficient to decide upon their 
ability to accompany a mounted command on ordinary marches, 
to perform the duties of mounted staff officers, to carry dispatches 
in the field, and to saddle, unsaddle, and care for a horse in emer¬ 
gencies. This examination will ordinarily be held in connection 
with the practical examination in Drill Regulations. 

The board, being satisfied as to the moral' and physical quali¬ 
fications of the applicant, will proceed with the mental examination, 
which will consist of two parts, (1) the elementary examination, 
and (2) the professional examination. In the elementary examina¬ 
tion the board will examine the applicant— 

1. In his knowledge of English grammar and his ability to 

read, write, and spell with facility and correctness. 

2. In his knowledge of arithmetic and his ability to apply 

its rules to practical questions. 

3. In his knowledge of geography, particularly in reference 

to North America. 

4. In his knowledge of the history of the United States. 


United States Military Service. 105 

This elementary examination may he waived by the board in case 
the applicant produces a diploma or certificate of graduation from 
some educational institution of good repute, or when the board is 
satisfied from the record of the applicant or other circumstances that 
he has been sufficiently educated in the subjects mentioned; these 
modifications in regard to the elementary examination are of special 
importance in the cases of applicants over forty years of age. 

When the applicant desires that the elementary examination 
be waived, and the board after deliberation decides to omit it, the 
mark assigned to each of the four subjects thereof shall be 70 per 
cent of the maximum. 

In the professional examination the subjects will vary with the 
nature of the position sought by the applicant, as follows: 

INFANTRY. 

FOR CAPTAINS, FIRST LIEUTENANTS, AND SECOND LIEUTENANTS. 

Administration (oral).—Army Regulations and important gen¬ 
eral orders, in the discretion of the board, special attention being 
paid to Articles I.-XXIII., inclusive; XXIX.-XXXIII., inclusive; 
and Articles XT., XLI., LIV., LVI., and LXI. 

Drill Regulations (practical).—School of the Soldier; School of 
the Squad; and School of the Company. 

Field Service Regulations (oral).—Service of Information; Serv¬ 
ice of Security; marches; shelter. 

Small-Arms Firing Regulations (oral).—Theoretical principles; 
estimating distances. 

Manual of Guard Duty (oral).—Entire book. 

Military Law (oral).—Manual of Courts-Martial (official). 

Topography (practical).—Making of a topographical map; map¬ 
reading. 

FOR FIELD OFFICERS. 

- The examination of applicants for positions as field officers of 
Infantry will be the same as that prescribed for company officers, 
adding thereto: 

Drill Regulations (practical and oral).—School of the Battalion; 
evolutions of the regiment; and ceremonies. 

Field Service Regulations (oral).—Entire text. 

Military Law (oral).—The law of war; civil functions and rela¬ 
tions of the military; instructions for the government of armies 
of the United States in the field (General Orders, No. 100, A. G. O., 
1863; General Orders, Nos. 4 and 52, A. G. O., 1902; and Circular 
No. 65, W. D., 1907. 


106 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

CAVALRY. 

FOR CAPTAINS, FIRST LIEUTENANTS, AND SECOND LIEUTENANTS. 

Administration (oral).—Same as for Infantry. 

Drill Regulations (practical).—School of the Soldier; School of 
the Trooper; the troop. 

Field Service Regulations, Small-Arms Firing Regulations, Man¬ 
ual of Guard Duty, Military Law, and Topography. —Same as for 
Infantry. 

Hippology (oral).—The Cavalry horse- nomenclature; conform¬ 
ation ;• examination for soundness; age of horses; endurance of horses. 
Bits, bitting, and training; saddles; seats; transportation of horses; 
the horse’s foot; stable management; forage. 

FOR FIELD OFFICERS. 

The examination will be the same as for troop officers, adding 
thereto: 

Drill Regulations (practical and oral).—The squadron, including 
extended order; the regiment, including extended order; employ¬ 
ment of Cavalry. 

Field Service Regulations and Military Law (oral).—Same as for 
field officers of Infantry. 

FIELD ARTILLERY. 

FOR CAPTAINS, FIRST LIEUTENANTS, AND SECOND LIEUTENANTS. 

Administration (oral).—Same as for Infantry. 

Field Artillery Drill Regulations (practical and oral).—The sol¬ 
dier, dismounted; the battery, dismounted; the cannoneer; the gun 
squad; the firing battery; preparation and conduct of fire; the sol¬ 
dier, mounted; the gun squad, mounted; the driver; the battery, 
mounted; service of information and communication; reconnais¬ 
sance and selections of positions. 

Field Service Regulations, Small-Arms Firing Regulations, Man¬ 
ual of Guard Duty, Military Law, and Topography. —Same as for 
Infantry. 

Hippology (oral).—The Cavalry horse: nomenclature; conform¬ 
ation; examination for soundness; age of horses; endurance of 
horses. Bits, bitting, and training; saddles; seats; transportation 
of horses; the horse’s foot; stable management; forage. 

Field Artillery Material (oral and practical).—General descrip¬ 
tion and knowledge of the use of Field Artillery material and 
accessories. 


United States Military Service. 107 

FOR FIELD OFFICERS. 

The examination will be the same as for battery officers, adding 
thereto: 

Field Service Regulations and Military Law (oral).—Same as for 
field officers of Infantry. 

Field Artillery Drill Regulations (oral and practical).—Entire 

text. 

COAST ARTILLERY CORPS. 

FOR FIRST LIEUTENANTS AND SECOND LIEUTENANTS. 

1. Administration (oral).—Same as for Infantry. 

2. Drill Regulations (oral and practical): 

(a) Coast Artillery Drill Regulations so far as relates to 

the formation of the company and marching ma¬ 
neuvers and the drill for one piece, to be selected 
by the candidate; the current instruction order for 
the Coast Artillery Corps. 

( b ) Infantry Drill Regulations, to include the School of 

the Company. 

3. Field Service Regulations, Manual of Guard Duty, Military 
Law, and Topography. —Same as for Infantry. 

4 Explosives (oral), including primers and fuses. 

5. Electricity (oral), to include theoretical electricity, basis of 
electrical measurements, including units; Ohm’s law, including its 
application to shunts; electro-magnetism and induced currents; 
methods of measurement of voltage; current, electrical energy and 
resistance, of apparatus therefor; primary cells; general principles 
of storage batteries, generators, and motors. 

CAPTAINS. 

The subjects for captains are the same as for lieutenants and 
in addition thereto: 

1. Elementary Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (oral and 
practical), to include elementary and applied mechanics; care and 
operation of steam boilers, steam engines, and internal combustion 
engines; theory, care, and operation of dynamos, motors, storage 
batteries, telephones, and searchlights. 

2. Coast Artillery Drill Regulations (oral and practical).—Fire 
and mine command. 

3. Ceremonies of Infantry Drill Regulations . 


108 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

FIELD OFFICERS. 

For Field Officers, Coast Artillery Corps, the subjects are the 
same as for captains, and in addition thereto: 

1. Coast Artillery Drill Regulations (oral and practical).— 
Entire text. 

2. Infantry Drill Regulations (oral and practical).—School of 
the Battalion. 

3. Military Law and Field Service Regulations .—Same as for 
field officers of Infantry. 

ENGINEERS. 

Applicants for positions as volunteer Engineer officers must 
produce a diploma from a reputable technical institution in which 
Engineering and Surveying formed part of the course of the grad¬ 
uate. The examination will be in the discretion of the board. 
Much importance will be attached to the professional experience 
of the applicant, especially in the grades above first lieutenant. 

FOR CAPTAINS, FIRST LIEUTENANTS, AND SECOND LIEUTENANTS. 

Administration , Drill Regulations, Field Service Regulations, 
Small-Arms Firing Regulations, Manual of Guard Duty, Military 
Law. —Same as for company officers of Infantry. 

They will also be required to undergo an oral examination 
sufficient to indicate good elementary knowledge of the following 
subjects: 

1. Reconnaissance. 

2. Military bridges. 

3. Roads. 

4. Railroads. 

5. Field fortifications, including mines, demolitions, and 

explosives. 

6. Animal transportation. 

7. Practical electricity. 

8. Surveying. 

9. Construction, including foundations, building materials, 

and plant. 

Subjects 1 to 6, inclusive, are covered in Engineer Field Man¬ 
ual (Leach), being Professional Papers No. 29, Corps of Engineers. 

FOR FIELD OFFICERS. 

Same as for field officers of Infantry, adding thereto the pro¬ 
fessional examination above stated for company officers of Engi- 



United States Military Service. 109 

neers. The applicant will also be examined orally in the following 
subjects: 

1. Duties of Engineer officers and troops in war. 

2. Mechanics of Engineering. 

SIGNAL CORPS. 

FOR CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS. 

Administration (oral).—Army Regulations: Same as for com¬ 
pany officers of Infantry. Also regulations pertaining specially to 
the Signal Corps; laws relating to Signal Corps. 

Signaling ' (oral and practical). — Theoretical and practical 
knowledge of modern methods of visual signaling, including ability 
to transmit and receive messages by flag, lantern, and heliograph. 

Telegraphy and Telephony (oral and practical).—Theoretical 
and applied knowledge of electricity and telephony, covering (a) 
installation and repair of telephones, testing for faults, etc.; ( h) 
construction, maintenance, and operation of permanent telegraph 
and telephone lines; (c) installation, maintenance, and operation of 
field lines; (d) skill in transmission and receipt of messages on tele¬ 
graph lines; (e) dynamos, motors, and batteries (oral and practical). 

Military Law (oral).—Manual of Courts-Martial (official). In¬ 
structions for the government of armies of the United States in the 
field (General Orders, Nos. 100 of 1863, 4 and 52 of 1902, A. G. O., 
and Circular No. 65, W. D., 1907). 

Topography (practical).—Map-reading and field sketching. 

FOR FIELD OFFICERS. 

The examination will be the same as the foregoing, adding 
thereto: 

Scheme as to material, cost, time, etc., and method of con¬ 
structing a permanent telegraph line in such portion of the United 
States as may be designated; scheme for assembling, organizing, 
and transporting a mobile telegraph train for building light semi¬ 
permanent lines for telegraph or telephone communication under 
conditions to be designated by the examining board. 

Engines, boilers, internal combustion engines, and automobile 
traction. 

ADJUTANT GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT. 

FOR CAPTAINS. 

Administration (oral).—Army Regulations, in the discretion of 
the board, special importance being attached to the portion relating 


no Aspirants for Commissions in the 

to the usual duties of officers of the Adjutant General’s Department, 
including the subjects of “Orders,” “Military Correspondence,” 
“Muster Rolls,” “Returns of Troops,” “Records and Reports.” 

Drill Regulations (oral).—General notions as to organization, 
armament, equipment, and evolutions of the three arms, especially 
of ceremonies and functions in which troops of various arms may 
be combined. 

Manual of Guard Duty (oral).—Entire text. 

Military Law (oral).—Manual of Courts-Martial (official). In¬ 
structions for the government of armies of the United States in the 
field (General Orders, Nos. ioo of 1863, 4 and 52 of 1902, A. G. O., 
and Circular No. 65, W. D., 1907). 

Topography (practical). — Making of a topographical map; 
map-reading. * 

FOR FIELD OFFICERS. 

The examination will be the same as for captains, adding 
thereto: 

Field Service Regulations (oral).—Entire text. 

Minor Tactics (oral).—Characteristics of the three arms; the 
three arms in attack and defense; the three arms combined; convoys. 

INSPECTOR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT. 

FOR ALL OFFICERS. 

Administration (oral).—Army Regulations, in the discretion of 
the board, special attention being devoted to the articles, “Inspect¬ 
or General’s Department,” “Money Accountability,” and “Public 
Property.” 

Drill Regulations of the Three Arms (oral).—Same as for com¬ 
pany, troop, battery, and field officers. 

Manual of Guard Duty (oral).—Entire text. 

Field Service Regulations (oral).—Entire text. 

Military Law (oral).—Manual of Courts-Martial (official). In¬ 
structions for the government of armies of the United States in the 
field (General Orders, Nos. 100 of 1863, 4 and 52 of 1902, A. G. O., 
and Circular No. 65, W. D., 1907.) 

QUARTERMASTER CORPS. 

FOR ALL OFFICERS. 

Administration (oral and practical).—Army Regulations: Ar¬ 
ticle* L-, advertising and printing; Article LI., purchase of supplies 


United States Military Service. 111 

and engagement of services; Article LII., bonds of disbursing offi¬ 
cers, bidders, and contractors; Article LUI., money accountability; 
Article LIV., public property accountability and responsibility; 
Article LV., lands, buildings, and improvements; Article LVI., sur¬ 
veys on property; Article LVII., civilian employees, general provi¬ 
sions; Article LXXIV., Quartermaster Corps, office administra¬ 
tion. Quartermaster’s Manual, 1904; U. S. Army Transport Serv¬ 
ice Regulations, 1908; and Circulars of the Quartermaster General’s 
Office relating to supplies and services. 

(Blanks should be furnished and the applicant required to ex¬ 
emplify their use in the preparation of contracts, bonds, returns, 
accounts current, etc.) 

Military Law (oral).—Manual of Courts-Martial (official). The 
law of war; civil functions and relations of the military; instruc¬ 
tions for the government cf armies of the United States in the field 
(General Orders, Nos. 100 of 1863, 4 and 52 of 1902, A. G. O., and 
Circular No. 65, W. D., 1907). 

Hippology (oral).—The Cavalry horse: draft horses and mules; 
inspection and purchase; care of; feeding, watering. Stables: con¬ 
struction; lighting; ventilation. Forage: kinds and relative value; 
inspection of; causes of deterioration; proper care of. 

Transportation (oral).—By land (rail, wagon, and pack) and 
water; care of animals on cars and transports; construction and 
repairs of roads, Railroads, bridges, etc. 

ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. 

FOR CAPTAINS AND FIRST LIEUTENANTS. 

Administration (oral).—Army Regulations and important gen¬ 
eral orders, in the discretion of the board, special attention being 
devoted to Articles I.-V., IX.-XIII., and XX 1 X-XXXII., all in¬ 
clusive, and Articles XL., XLI., LI.-LVII., LXI., LXII., LXX 1 X.; 
also Ordnance Regulations, 1907. 

Small-Arms Firing Regulations (oral).—Theoretical principles. 

Military Law (oral).— Same as for company officers of Infantry. 

Duties of Ordnance Officers (oral): 

(a) At headquarters of brigades, divisions, departments, or 

districts; practical duties of Ordnance officers in the 
field, including minor repairs of arms and implements. 

(b) Knowledge of boilers, engines, tools, including practical 

handling of tools. 

(c) Practical electricity and electrical machines. 


112 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

(d) Practical knowledge of the arms and equipments of the 

Infantry, Cavalry, and Field Artillery. 

(e) Experience in the manufacture of articles composed of 

steel, of wood, of leather. 

FOR FIELD OFFICERS. 

The examination will be the same as the foregoing, but the 
board will, in addition, inquire into the business capacity of the 
applicant, his experience with mechanics and machinists, and his 
ability in the management of manufacturing establishments. 

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 

[Examinations will be conducted under special instructions from 
the Surgeon General.] 

FOR CAPTAINS AND FIRST LIEUTENANTS. 

1. Administration. —Army Regulations, so far as they relate 
to the Medical Department or to the medical officer as an officer of 
the Army. 

Manual for the Medical Department. 

(Blanks should be furnished and the applicants required to 
exemplify their use in the preparation of reports and returns.) 

2. Drill Regulations for the Hospital Corps. 

3. Practice of Medicine. 

4. Surgery. 

5. Military Sanitation. 

6. Military Law. —Manual of Courts-Martial (official). In¬ 
structions for the government of armies of the United States in the 
field (General Orders, Nos. 100 of 1863, 4 and 52 of 1902, A. G. O., 
and Circular No. 65, W. £)., 1907). 

FOR FIELD OFFICERS. 

1. Administration. —Army Regulations, so far as they relate 
to the Medical Department or to the medical officer as an officer of 
the Army. 

Field Service Regulations, in so far as they relate to the Medical 
Department. 

Manual for the Medical Department. 

(Blanks should be furnished and the applicants required to 
exemplify their use in the preparation of reports and returns.) 

2. Practice of Medicine. 

3. Surgery. 



United States Military Service. 113 

4. Military Sanitation and Epidemiology. 

5. Military Law .—Manual of Courts-Martial (official). In¬ 
structions for the government of armies of the United States in the 
field (General Orders, Nos. 100 of 1863, 4 and 52 of 1902, A. G. O., 
and Circular No. 65, War Department, 1907). 

JUDGE-ADVOCATE GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT. 

The applicant shall produce a diploma from a regularly estab¬ 
lished law school of good reputation, and shall submit evidence that 
he has been a practicing attorney in good standing for a period of 
at least two years. 

FOR ALP OFFICERS. 

Administration (oral).—Army Regulations, in the discretion of 
the board, special importance being attached to Article XLVIII. 
(employment of troops in the enforcement of the laws); Article 
LXIX. (Judge-Advocate General’s Department); Article LXX. 
(arrest and confinement); Article LXXI. (courts-martial); Article 
LXXII. (civilian witnesses); Article LXXIII. (employment of civil 
counsel— habeas corpus ). The Articles of War. 

Military Law (oral).—Manual of Courts-Martial (official). 

International Law and the Law of War (oral): 

1. States and their essential attributes. 

2. Perfect and imperfect rights. 

3. National character. 

4. The conflict of international rights. 

5. War. 

6. Neutrality the rights and duties of neutrals. 

7. Law of military occupation. 

8. Instructions for the government of armies of the 

United States in the field (General Orders, No. 100, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 1863). 

9. The Geneva Convention, 1906 (Circular No. 65, War 

Department, 1907). 

10. The Hague Conference (General Orders, Nos. 4 and 
52, Adjutant General’s Office, 1902). 

Revised Statutes and Acts of Congress Relating to the Organiza¬ 
tion, etc., of the Military Establishment of the United States (oral).— 
In the discretion of the board, the scope of the examination to be 
sufficient to test the applicant’s knowledge of the fundamental prin¬ 
ciples and more important details of the laws relating to the Army 
of the United States and the Militia. 



114 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

LETTER OF APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION FOR 
COMMISSION IN VOLUNTEER FORCE. 

(Under Section 23, Act of January 21, 1903.) 

- , 19 - 

The Adjutant General, _ , 


Sir,—I have the honor to apply for examination for a com¬ 
mission as *_of f _ t _, in any Volunteer force 

which may hereafter be called for and organized under the authority 
of Congress, other than a force composed of organized Militia. 

I have served _ years in ||_ 

I have pursued a regular course of instruction for _ years 

in ^ - 

I graduated in the year_from **_ , after having cred¬ 

itably pursued the course of military instruction therein provided. 

I was born _ , i_, and am ff _ a citizen of the 

United States. 

Respectfully, __ , 


The correctness of the statements above made was sworn to 
and subscribed before me,_, 19_ 

« -, 


♦Insert grade. 

flnsert branch of Service, as Cavalry, Field Artillery, Coast Artillery, or 
Infantry. 

JName staff position, and in this case rule out (*) and (t). 

|[Insert service in Regular Army of the United States, or Volunteer forces 
of the United States, or organized Militia of any State, Territory, or District of 
Columbia; also state in what capacity. 

If Insert the name and location of the military school or college of the 
United States Army. 

♦♦Insert the name and location of the educational institution to which an 
officer of the Army or Navy has been detailed as superintendent or professor 
pursuant to law. 

fflnsert “not” if in accordance with fact. 

jjOath to be taken before, and signature to be made by, officer authorized 
by law to administer oaths. 

Note. —The foregoing is the form to be followed in applying for examina¬ 
tion, and is to be addressed to the,adjutant general of a State or Territory, or to 
the Adjutant General of the Army, according as the applicant comes within 
the classes indicated in the fourth paragraph of Section III., and must embody 
all the information indicated in the blanks. Blank forms are not supplied by 
the War Department. 




















United States Military Service. 


ii 5 


CHAPTER IX. 


A Short Talk with Newly Appointed Officers. 

OATH OF OFFICE.— REPORTS. — UNIFORMS, ARMS, AND EQUIPMENTS.— 

SOCIAL CUSTOMS. — LIBRARY. — PERFORMANCE OF DUTY. — INCOME 

AND EXPENDITURES. — HABITS. 

OATH OF OFFICE. 

Your appointment will come from the Adjutant General’s office. 
The order making the appointment is usually accompanied by a 
blank Oath of Office, in the following form: 

I, _ , having been appointed a _ in the 

military service of the United States, do solemnly swear (or affirm) 
that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States 
against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith 
and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, with¬ 
out any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will 
well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am 
about to enter. So help me God. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, at _ , this _ 

day of _ , 19_ 

This oath may be taken before some officer who is authorized 
by the law of the United States or by the local municipal law to 
administer oaths, or it may be taken before the judge-advocate of 
a department, or of a court-martial, before the trial officer of a 
summary court, or the adjutant of a command. Officers of <£he 
Army other than those specified are not authorized to administer 
oaths. 

This matter should be promptly attended to. As soon as the 
oath has been taken, the completed form will be mailed to the 
Adjutant General, Washington, D. C. 

REPORTS. 

Immediately on receipt of order assigning you to a regiment 
you should write a letter to the adjutant of the regiment to which 
assigned, to your company commander, and should your station be 
other than that of the regimental headquarters, to the adjutant 
of your station. There is no prescribed form of letter, but the 
following is a good form: 








n6 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

Boston, Mass., July i, 1917. 

From: John Smith, 2d Lieut., 16th Inf. 

To: The Commanding Officer, 16th Infantry, 

Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. 

Subject: Personal report. 

1. Having been assigned to the 16th Inf. by G. O. 131, W. D., 
c. s., I report myself on leave of absence since June 14, 1917, per 
S. O. 50, Hq., Military Academy, 1917. My leave will expire 
October 1, 1917. 

2. My address until further notice will be care J. Smith & 
Son, P. O. Box 163, Boston, Mass. 

John Smith. 

Should you change your address, letters should at once be ad¬ 
dressed same as above and also to the Adjutant General, giving the 
new address. 

Letter to your company commander should be addressed to 
“Commanding Officer, Company B, Sixteenth Infantry,” and not 
to the officer by name. 

On expiration of your leave, you should be at your new station 
and report for duty. Ask the advice of some experienced officer as 
to what reports you should then make, and in what form. 

UNIFORMS, ARMS, AND EQUIPMENT. 

On first appointment, buy as little as you are sure will answer 
immediate needs. In the matter of uniform you should be ex¬ 
tremely careful. Buy nothing but the best. It will prove the 
cheapest in the long run. You can get the best only from military 
tailors of established reputation. The quality of cloth alone does 
not determine whether the best has been secured. Uniforms are 
much harder to “fit” than civilian clothes, and it takes a military 
tailor of experience to make the “ smart-looking ” uniform you want. 

If you haven’t the cash to pay for your uniforms, you wiU find 
that the responsible firms will extend you any reasonable time in 
which to meet the cost. The cash-payment plan is better, since 
there is always a cash discount; but, in the absence of the necessary 
money, it is better to let the uniform-man carry you than to borrow 
elsewhere to pay him. There have been numerous changes in the 
uniform in the past few years. The matters of patterns and cloth 
have probably been settled for some time to come; whether they have 
or not, you will be required to procure what is necessary in order to 


United States Military Service. 117 

appear in the uniforms which may be prescribed from time to time 
by your post commander. Should your station be in the Philip¬ 
pines, you will want khaki and white duck. The uniform wardrobe 
for domestic service is much more elaborate, and before purchasing 
it would be advisable to get a copy of the most recent uniform order. 

Arms and equipment can be secured from the Ordnance Depart¬ 
ment. You can get a price list of ordnance by addressing the Chief 
of Ordnance, Washington, D C., or by writing to the commandant 
of the nearest ordnance depot or arsenal. 

Remember that you can purchase anything that you may want 
in the line of uniforms, equipment, household furniture, etc., in the 
Philippines, and you may save yourself considerable worry and an¬ 
noyance by postponing many purchases until your arrival there. 
Your pay will be going on in the meantime and you may have more 
money with which to pay, and save yourself the embarrassment 
of debt. 

SOCIAL CUSTOMS. 

Start in right. Make yourself agreeable without getting “ fresh.” 
Seek the advice of some experienced officer as to the social cus¬ 
toms of the regiment, and be guided by his advice. While the cus¬ 
toms throughout the Army are in a way uniform, yet there are 
some differences which make it especially advisable for a new 
officer first joining to feel his way and allow himself to be directed 
in those matters by someone he knows is familiar with them and 
in whom he has confidence. , 

LIBRARY. 

In addition to the Army Regulations and the Service manuals, 
supply yourself with as many military books as you can reasonably 
afford. Select books dealing especially with recent wars and with 
modern appliances, arms, and equipment. The war game is under¬ 
going rapid changes. What was new ten years ago is becoming ob¬ 
solete. Recent inventions promise to consign the methods of to-day 
to an early disappearance. The successful soldier is the one who 
keeps up to date and abreast of the most modern in methods and 
means. A good list of military books can be secured from the 
Service Association publications and from the Franklin Hudson Pub¬ 
lishing Company, of Kansas City, the latter firm making a specialty 
of military books for the United States Service. 

Subscribe for at least one of the Service magazines; all of them 
if you can afford it. 


ii8 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

PERFORMANCE OF DUTY. 

Never neglect to perform any duty assigned you in exact ac¬ 
cordance with the terms of the order and in the most thorough 
manner possible. 

Strive to make yourself useful. There are many ways in which 
you can prove your ability and worth; and bear in mind that fu¬ 
ture assignments which are desirable and possible promotions may 
be based on the performance of a duty that a careless officer might 
think insignificant and of doubtful expediency. 

When you are assigned to the performance of a duty that calls 
for knowledge which you do not possess, proceed to inform yourself 
at once of all its details. It will usually be possible to anticipate 
the assignments of this character, and preparation for them can be 
made in advance, but not always so. 

If you are made signal officer, proceed to learn to signal and 
learn it well. If appointed ordnance officer, inform yourself at once 
as to all the details and the manner of performing the duty correctly. 
Show your company commander that you can be trusted to carry 
out his directions in the precise and exact manner he prescribes. 

Respect the rank and length of service of your superiors. Just 
because Captain Jones calls you “Smith” it does not license you 
to call him “Jones.” When off duty you are not, of course, ex¬ 
pected to present the stiff and formal attitude toward your supe¬ 
riors that is so often depicted on the stage; but at the same time 
there should be a deference and respect shown your superiors at all 
times that would not fail to commend your conception of military 
discipline and the principles underlying it. 

INCOME AND EXPENDITURES. 

A second lieutenant, not mounted, gets $1,700 per year—that is, 
$141.67 per month; if mounted, and you provide yourself with one 
suitable mount, you will get $150 per year more; if you have two 
suitable mounts, you will get $200 per year more. This constitutes 
the income from the Government. If you have no outside income, 
your expenditures must be arranged to come within this limit, or 
else, sooner or later, you will come to grief. In addition to this 
allowance, you get quarters; the allowance for a second lieutenant 
being two rooms. 

Graduates of the United States Military Academy, on first 
appointment, get mileage from West Point to their first stations. 


United States Military Service. 119 

Officers appointed from civil life must defray their own ex¬ 
penses to their first stations. 

Mileage allowance is at the rate of 7 cents per mile by the 
shortest practicable route. This covers all expenses—railroad fare, 
sleeper, dining-car, etc., there being no other expense account 
allowance. 

Before buying a ticket, ascertain from the Quartermaster Gen¬ 
eral, U. S. Army, whether the travel is all or in part over any land- 
grant failroads; should any part of it be land-grant, it usually pays 
to get transportation from the Quartermaster Corps over that part 
of the road, as mileage is not allowed over land-grant roads. 

HABITS. 

Cultivate temperate habits from the first. A better way to 
put it would be, keep your temperate habits, for it is not likely a 
person would be appointed with habits needing cultivating. Temp¬ 
tations will be many and sometimes difficult to withstand. Drink¬ 
ing is sure to lead to trouble in time, if immediate difficulties are not 
encountered. Possibly as much as 95 per cent of the officers dis¬ 
missed from the Service can lay their misfortune at the door of 
intemperance. The beginning of trouble usually presents itself in 
the most innocent appearance and guise. Look out for it. 


120 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


CHAPTER X. 


Enlisting for a Commission. 

THE DISCIPLINARY GULF.—FOOD AND CLOTHING.—THE ENLISTED MEN 

AS A TYPE. — THE SOLDIER’S ROUTINE.—THE ARMS OF THE 

SERVICE.—ASSISTANCE OF OFFICERS.—SOME POINTERS. 

The young man contemplating entering the Service as an en¬ 
listed man for the purpose of obtaining a commission from the ranks 
should give the matter very serious thought before taking the step. 
While it is the surest way of accomplishing this purpose left open 
after the appointment of the West Point class, it will also be found 
to have its drawbacks in more ways than one. 

THE DISCIPLINARY GULF. 

There is a wide gulf between the commissioned officers and the 
enlisted men of the Service, the existence of which is based on the 
proven rules of discipline; but to the average American, who has 
given no thought as to the reasons, it has the suggestions of the 
prevalence of caste, or an aristocracy. This social chasm, or gulf, 
until it is thoroughly understood, is probably the thing which will 
prove the most trying to the educated man who enlists in the Service. 
Especially will this be true if he has seen considerable of social life. 
A little reasoning and a little experience will soon convince him of 
the necessity for this condition, and once it is understood there should 
be no more mental worries from this source. 

FOOD AND CLOTHING. 

In the matter of food and clothing, he will be amply taken 
care of, even in the trying times of active campaigns. Tales of 
starvation and of short rations, so frequently finding space in the 
daily press, especially during campaigns, seldom have any basis of 
fact, and are what are known among the enlisted men as “hero 
stories,” told most frequently by those who have seen little, if any, 
real fighting, and must find a substitute subject for reminiscence. 
It is unquestionably true that there are times when an active army 
does not receive its full ration, and it even may for a time experience 
privation, but it is because of the exigencies of the Service, and not 
because of the failure of the Government to provide a sufficient 



United States Military Service. 121 

supply. A good soldier will understand this, and perform his duty 
uncomplainingly. The United States soldier is the best fed, best 
clothed, and best paid soldier in the world. 

THE ENLISTED MEN AS A TYPE. 

The enlisted men represent a hardy type of manhood. They 
are jovial, ready-witted, and world-wise. They are of a sociable 
disposition, and a new man among them will soon find the particular 
spirits who are congenial to him. 

The habits of the enlisted men of the Army will compare very 
favorably with those of any equally large body of men of any trade 
representing the same walks of life. 

THE SOLDIER’S ROUTINE. 

No menial service is required other than the police of their 
own qua“ters and grounds, and the preparation and serving of meals. 
The regulations do not allow officers to demand personal service of 
enlisted men, and when such services are performed it is done vol¬ 
untarily and for which the soldier gets extra compensation from 
the officer. 

The soldier’s life is one of most systematic routine. His duties 
are regulated to the minute by the clock and the bugle. The train¬ 
ing can not do other than instill habits of regularity, punctiliousness, 
politeness, and alertness. 

THE ARMS OF THE SERVICE. 

It is usually allowable for the man enlisting to select his own 
arm, or branch, of the Service. It will make but little, if any, dif¬ 
ference to which arm of the Service the candidate belongs when 
he comes up for his examination. About the only matter to be 
decided would be the question of his adaptability to the arm se¬ 
lected and the opportunities for study in his preparation for the 
examinations. The recruiting officer can help in deciding the first 
question, and the latter can only be found out by investigation as 
to the stations of regiments, the particular kind of duty in which 
they may be engaged, etc. Ordinarily, a regiment stationed in the 
United States would afford the best opportunity for study. 

ASSISTANCE OF OFFICERS. 

Officers usually allow “every tub to stand on its own bottom”; 
but a deserving man will have no difficulty in enlisting the active 


122 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

assistance of his company officers in his preparation for his exam¬ 
inations. There will be found exceptions, no doubt, but they will 
be rare. It will be necessary for the candidate to show beyond any 
question his fitness for the position sought; but, once he has done 
this, he will meet with few obstacles that are not of his own crea¬ 
tion. Company officers are always looking for material for non¬ 
commissioned officers, and a meritorious man is not likely to remain 
long a private soldiei'. 


SOME POINTERS. 

Always keep yourself cleanly shaved, your shoes, shined, your 
linen clean, your clothes pressed and clean, your “bunk” neatly 
made-up, your locker in order, your arms and equipment in order, 
and your whole appearance soldierly and tidy. Rest assured that 
all of these will be closely observed, and the failure to come up to 
the standard will be particularly noticeable in your case. 

The fact that you are enlisting with the purpose of obtaining 
a commission from the ranks need not be heralded on the first day of 
joining to the entire command; that is, for the present, strictly your 
own affair. After you have graduated from the “rookie” class and 
have taken your place in the ranks and are performing all of a sol¬ 
dier’s duties in a soldierly way, there could be no reason why you 
should not ask permission to have a talk with your company com¬ 
mander and discuss the matter with him, asking his advice on many 
matters which by this time will have presented themselves to you 
for solution. 

Remember that thoughts not spoken need no explanations. 
Say little; see and heed much. You will find the old soldiers re¬ 
serve to themselves the privilege of “growling.” They know how 
to do this without meaning what they say; a new man attempting 
it would be misunderstood. If there is any “growling” to do, turn 
it over to the old soldiers, and you will find they will do it justice 
without any assistance on your part. 

If you have served in a military organization before enlisting 
in the Regular Army, it will be just as well to not mention the fact,, 
and it will be particularly advisable not to make comparisons, even 
to the disadvantage of your former organization. If your prior 
military experience has resulted in military training of worth, use 
that training in the performance of your duties, and not for purposes 
of self-exploitation. 


United States Military Service. 


123 


CHAPTER XI. 


The Enlisted Men. 

THE ENLISTED MEN OF THE REGULAR ARMY.—REQUIREMENTS TO 
ENTER The SERVICE.—DECLARATION OF APPLICANT FOR EN¬ 
LISTMENT.-FORM OF CONSENT IN THE CASE OF A MINOR.-OATH 

OF ENLISTMENT.-PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF ENLISTED MEN.— 

LOCATION OF GENERAL RECRUITING STATIONS FOR THE UNITED 
STATES ARMY. 

THE ENLISTED MEN OF OUR REGULAR ARMY. 
This little volume, in addition to its being a guide to young 
men in civil life who are ambitious to become officers in our Army, 
is also intended as a manual for the enlisted men of our Regular 
Service who aspire to commissioned rank. To submit it, with all its 
imperfections, without a word on the enlisted personnel, would 
cripple it indeed. 

If the young aspirant for shoulder-straps contemplates securing 
them by graduating from the United States Military Academy at 
West Point, or by taking his examinations from civil life, he, of 
course, will be interested to know the character of then he is to 
command, once his ambition has been realized. 

If the aspirant intends to enlist and win his spurs by service 
in the ranks, he will have a deep interest in learning of the men who 
are to be his fellow-soldiers and comrades. 

Before sounding the praises of the enlisted men of our per¬ 
manent military establishment, it is well to state that, like all other 
professions and vocations, the Army is made up of men from all 
walks and conditions of life, and the description of one man, in¬ 
tended to portray the general character of the whole body, would 
condemn or eulogize individuals undeservedly. 

As a class, they have proven themselves to be steady, honest, 
conscientious, and patriotic men, whose devotion to duty during 
the trying and exacting campaigns in the tropics in the recent wars 
with Spain, the insurgents of the Philippine Islands, and the Chinese 
troubles, has elicited the admiration of the nations of the world. 
Their unflinching bravery, willingness to obey the orders of their 
superior officers, and their power for execution, have won them the 
confidence, affection, and ready praise of their commanders. 



124 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

The casual and reckless observer, the professional sentiment¬ 
alist, the “know-all,” and the bigot have accused them of being 
drunkards. To such critics one man in the service of the United 
States Army, in uniform, seen intoxicated on the streets brings 
visions of whole battalions, brigades, and divisions reeling in in¬ 
ebriety. To them it never occurred that because a single brakeman, 
through human weakness, by chance over-indulges and becomes 
intoxicated, it does not necessarily follow that the entire railroad 
system with which he holds such an humble position is staggering 
under a load of alcoholism. 

Brtt this condemning of a class for the shortcomings of a few 
of that class seems to be confined to the enlisted men of the 
Regular Army. 

To meet these unjust criticisms and the arguments of the un¬ 
just critics, a reference to the enlisted man’s unstained record from 
Lexington to Pekin is sufficient. It is a catalogue of fortitude, 
bravery, devotion to duty, and of victories bought at tremendous 
sacrifice. 

At no time since the establishment of the standing Army has 
the enlisted personnel been of a higher order of intelligence, morals, 
or physique than at the present time. Many young men of excel¬ 
lent families, who are well educated and of good prospects, are car¬ 
rying rifles as privates and non-commissioned officers in our Army, 
and upholding the honor of “Old Glory” at home and in our island 
possessions. 

A man enlisting with the view of obtaining a commission from 
the ranks need not isolate himself. He will find many excellent 
associates who will welcome him to their pleasures and pastimes 
should he merit it. Soldiers are anything but fools, and are not 
long in placing a man on his proper level—according to his intrinsic 
worth. If the aspirant has the right kind of stuff in him, the en¬ 
listed men, because of their close association with him, will be the 
first to recognize it, and the right kind of a man will soon have the 
respect of his comrades. There is but little jealousy among the 
rank and file, and those who are willing to build are in vast majority 
over those who would tear down. 

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE SERVICE. 

In all the larger cities of the United States general recruiting 
offices are maintained. At any of them enlistments may be made 
for any arm of the Service needing recruits, Any questions re- 


United States Military Service. 125 

g arcling the pay, allowances, the life and duties of a soldier will be 
cheerfully answered. 

An applicant is frequently held for several days, at Govern¬ 
ment expense, pending investigation into his character, citizenship 
age, etc. 

The following instructions pertaining to enlistments are uni¬ 
form at all recruiting offices, and any deviation from them can not 
be made without authority from the Adjutant General of the Army 
through whose department the recruitment of the Army is made- 

Applicants for first enlistment must be between the ages of 21 
and 35 years, of good character and temperate habits, able-bodied 
free from disease, and must be able to speak, read, and write the 
English language. 

No person under 21 years of age will be enlisted, re-enlisted or 
accepted with a view to enlistment, and minors between the ages 
of 18 and 21 years must not be enlisted, or accepted with a view to 
enlistment, without the written consent of the father, only surviving 
parent, or legally appointed guardian, to the minor’s enlistment. 

Original enlistments will be confined to persons who are citizens 
of the United States, or of Porto Rico, or who have made legal 
declaration of their intention to become citizens of the United States. 

Married men will be enlisted only upon the approval of a regi¬ 
mental commander, or other proper commanding officer, if for other 
than a regimental organization. 

Applicants will be required to satisfy the recruiting officer re¬ 
garding age and character, and should be prepared to furnish the 
necessary evidence. 

For Infantry, Coast Artillery, and Engineers the height must 
be not less than five feet four inches, and weight not more than 
one hundred and ninety (190) pounds. 

For Cavalry the height must be not less than five feet four 
inches and not more than five feet ten inches, and weight not to 
exceed one hundred apd sixty-five (165) pounds. 

For Field Artillery height must be not less than five feet 
four inches and not more than six feet, and weight not more than 
one hundred and ninety (190) pounds. For the Mountain Batteries 
the height must be not less than five feet eight inches. 

A variation not exceeding a fraction of an inch above the 
maximum height given for Cavalry and Field Artillery is permissi¬ 
ble, if the applicant is in good health and is in other respects desir¬ 
able as a recruit. 


126 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

The minimum weight for all arms of the Service is one hundred 
and twenty-eight (128) pounds, subject to variations below that 
standard as explained herein; but in no case will an applicant whose 
weight falls below one hundred and twenty (120) pounds be ac¬ 
cepted without special authority from the Adjutant General of 
the Army. 


TABLE OF PHYSICAL PROPORTIONS FOR HEIGHT, 
WEIGHT, AND CHEST MEASUREMENT. 


Height. 

Weight. 

Chest Measurement. 




At Expiration, 

Mobility, 

Feet. 

Inches. 

Pounds. 

Inches. 

Inches. 

5 4 /l2 

64 

128 

32 

2 

5 5 /12 

65 

130 

32 

2 

5 6 /12 

66 

133 

32 K 

2 

5 7 /i2 

67 

134 

33 

2 

5 8 /l2 

68 

141 

33 l A 

2 A 

5 9 /l2 

69 

148 

33A 

2 '/ 2 - 

5 10 /i2 

70 

155 

34 

2 A 

5 u /!2 

7i 

162 

34 A 

2 A 

6 

72 

169 

34^ 

3 

6 1 /12 

73 

176 

35 l A 

3 


It is not necessary that the applicant should conform exactly 
to the figures indicated in the foregoing table. The following va¬ 
riations below the standard given in the table are permissible when 
the applicant is active , has firm muscles, and is evidently vigorous 
and healthy: 


Height. 


Chest at 
Expiration. 


Weight. 


Inches. 

64 and under 68 _ 

68 and under 69 _ 

69 and under 70 _ 

70 and upward_ 


Inches. 

2 

2 

2 

2 


Pounds. 

8 

12 

15 

20 


Marked disproportion of weight over height is not a cause for 
rejection unless the applicant be positively obese. 





























United States Military Service . 127 

Applicants must defray their own expenses while traveling to 
the recruiting station. 

The term of service is three years. 

At the time of the applicant’s examination for acceptance he 
will be required to answer the following questions and certify to 
the same: 

Name_ 

Residence (street and house number, if any, town or city, and 

State)_ 

Date and place of birth_ 

Occupation_ 

White or colored_ 

Married or single_ 

Name and address of last employer, and duration of employment_ 

Do you know that if you secure your enlistment by means of any 
false statement or misrepresentation, you are liable to trial by court- 

martial for fraudulent enlistment?_ 

Nationality of father_ 

Are you a citizen of the United States?_ If not, 

have you made application for citizenship, and if so, when and in 

what court?_ 

State previous Army, Navy, or Marine Corps service (United States 

or foreign)_1_ 

Date and place of last enlistment_ 

Date on which and organization from which last discharged_ 

Are you a member of the organized Militia of any State, Territory, 

or District of Columbia?_ 

Have you applied for enlistment before? and if so, when and where? 


If rejected, for what cause?_ 

Are there any reasons for your parents or other relatives objecting 

to your enlistment?_ 

Give names and addresses of persons dependent upon you for 

support_ 

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or imprisoned under sen¬ 
tence of a court in a reformatory, jail, or penitentiary?_ 

Have you found that your health and habits in any way interfere 

with your success in civil life? and if so, give details_ 

Are you addicted to the use of intoxicants or narcotics? and if so, 

to what extent?___ 

Do you consider that you are now sound and well?____ 























128 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

What illnesses, diseases, or accidents have you had since childhood? 


Have you ever had any of the following? if so, give approximate 
dates: 

Convulsions__ 

Epilepsy_____ 

Gonorrhea__ 

Sore on penis_ 

Have you ever raised or spat blood?_ 

When were you last treated by a physician, and for what ailment? 


Have you ever been under treatment at a hospital or asylum, and 
if so, for what ailment?___ 

I certify that the foregoing questions and my answers thereto 
have been read over to me, that I fully understand the questions, 
and that my answers thereto are correctly recorded and are true in 
all respects. 


(Signature of applicant.) 

DECLARATION OF APPLICANT FOR ENLISTMENT. 

Before taking the oath of enlistment the applicant will be re- - 
quired to subscribe to the following “Declaration of Applicant”: 

I, ---, desiring to enlist in the Army of 

the United States for the term of three years, do declare that I have 
neither wife nor child; that I am of the legal age to enlist, and be¬ 
lieve myself to be physically qualified to perform the duties of an 
able-bodied soldier; and I do further declare that I am of good 
habits and character in all respects, and have never been discharged 
from the United States Service (Army or Navy), or any other serv¬ 
ice, on account of disability or through sentence of either a civil or 
military court, nor discharged from any service, civil or military, 
except with good character, and for reasons given by me to the 
recruiting officer prior to this enlistment.* 

Given at_, this __day of_, ig_ _ 

Witness: __ 

Residence of applicant_ 

*Here ia added in the case of an applicant for first enlistment: “And that 
fT a ^ , J °F, have ,l nade legal declaration of my intention to become, a citizen of the 
United States. 


















United States Military Service. 129 

Name and address (street and house number, if any) of person 
to be notified in case of emergency, giving degree of relationship; 
if friend, so state. 

FORM OF CONSENT IN CASE THE APPLICANT 
IS A MINOR. 

Should the applicant for enlistment be under twenty-one years 
of age, the following form must be filled out, signed by the proper 
person, and delivered to the recruiting officer before the enlistment 
can be made: 

I, _, do certify that I am the_ of 

_; that the said_is_years of age; 

and I do hereby freely give my consent to his enlisting as a soldier 
in the Army of the United States for the period of three years. 

Given at_, this_day of_, 19, _. 


Witness: 


OATH OF ENLISTMENT. 

The applicant, having satisfactorily passed the physical exam¬ 
ination, signed the “Declaration of Applicant,” and, in the case of 
a minor, secured the consent of his parent or guardian, will subscribe 
to the following “Oath of Enlistment”: 


State of__ 

City, Town, or \ 
Military Post/ 


United States of America, 



I,_, born in_, in the State of 

_, age^_years and_months, and by occupa¬ 
tion a _, do hereby acknowledge to have volun¬ 
tarily _enlisted, this_day of-, 19—, 

as a soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the 
period of three years, unless sooner discharged by proper authority; 
and do also agree to accept from the United States such bounty, 
pay, rations, and clothing as are or may be established by law; and 
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will bear true faith and alle¬ 
giance to the United States of America; that I will serve them 
honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever; and 
that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and 
























130 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules 


and Articles of War. 

(See instruction 3) _ [Seal.] 

Subscribed and duly sworn to before me, this_day of 

_, A. D. 19_ 


Recruiting Officer. 

PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF ENLISTED MEN. 

All soldiers receive from the Government, without cost (in 
addition to their pay), rations, clothing, bedding, medicines, and 
medical attendance. 

The following are the rates of pay during first enlistment, as 
fixed by law: 


Grade. 


Monthly 

Pay. 


Master signal electrician_ 

Master electrician—Coast Artillery_ 

Chief musician—band, Engineers, Cavalry, Artillery, 

Infantry_ 

Engineer—Coast Artillery_•_ 

Sergeant, first class—Hospital Corps_ 

Electrician sergeant, first class—Coast Artillery_ 

Sergeant, first class—Signal Corps_ 

Battalion sergeant-major—Engineers_ 

Battalion quartermaster sergeant—Engineers_ 

Ordnance sergeant—post non-commissioned staff_ 

Commissary sergeant—post non-commissioned staff_ 

Quartermaster-sergeant—post non-commissioned staff _ _ 
Regimental sergeant-major—Cavalry, Field Artillery, 

Infantry_ 

Regimental quartermaster sergeant—Cavalry, Field Ar¬ 
tillery, infantry_ 

Regimental commissary sergeant—Cavalry, Field Artil¬ 
lery, Infantry_ 

Senior sergeant-major—Coast Artillery___ 

First sergeant—Engineers_j_ 


$75.00 

75.00 

75-00 

65.00 

50.00 

45-00 

45-00 

45.00 

45-00 

45-00 

45 -oo 

45-00 

45.00 

45 -oo 

45-00 

45-00 

45 -oo 




























United States Military Service. 


13 


Grade. 


Monthly 

Pay. 


First sergeant—Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry_ 

Master gunner—Coast Artillery_ 

Squadron sergeant-major—Cavalry_ 

Battalion sergeant-major—Field Artillery, Infantry_ 

Battalion quartermaster sergeant—Field Artillery_ 

Junior sergeant-major—Coast Artillery_ 

Chief trumpeter—Cavalry, Artillery_ 

Principal musician—Engineers, Cavalry, Artillery, In¬ 
fantry_ 

Electrician sergeant, second class—Coast Artillery_ 

Sergeant—Engineers, Ordnance, Signal Corps_ 

Quartermaster sergeant—Engineers_ 

Drum-major—band, Engineers, Cavalry, Artillery, In¬ 
fantry_ 

Color sergeant—Cavalry, Field Artillery, Infantry_ 

Sergeant—band_ 

Fireman—Coast Artillery__ 

Sergeant—Hospital Corps_ 

Cook—Engineers, Signal Corps- 

Cook—band____ 

Sergeant—Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry- 

Quartermaster sergeant—Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry __ 

Cook—Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry-- 

Stable sergeant—Field Artillery- 

Corporal—band_ 

Corporal—Hospital Corps-- 

Corporal—Engineers, Ordnance, Signal Corps- 

Mechanic—Coast Artillery- 

Chief mechanic—Field Artillery- 

Private—band- 

Corporal—Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry- 

Farrier and blacksmith, saddler—Cavalry- 

Artificer—Infantry- 

Mechanic—Field Artillery- 

Wagoner—Cavalry- 

Private, first class—Hospital Corps- 


$45-oo 

40.00 

40.00 

40.00 

40.00 

40.00 

40.00 

40.00 

36.00 

36.00 

36x0 

36.00 
36.CO 
36.00 
30.CO 
30.CO 
30.CO 
30.00 
30.00 
30.CO 
30.CO 
30.00 
30.00 
24.00 
24.00 
24.00 
24.00 
24.CO 
21.00 
21.00 
21.00 
21.00 
21.00 
18.00 








































132 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


Grade* 


Monthly 

Pay. 


Private, first class—Engineers, Ordnance, Signal. Corps- 

Private—Hospital Corps_ 

Trumpeter—Cavalry_ 

Musician—Engineers, Artillery, Infantry_ 

Private—Signal Corps, Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry- 

Private, second class—Engineers, Ordnance__ 


$18.00 

16.00 

15.00 

15-00 

15.00 

15.00 


For continuous service, the pay of enlisted men is increased as 
follows, viz.: For those whose initial pay, as set forth herein, is 
$36.00 or more, an increase of $4.00 a month for and during the 
second enlistment, and a further increase of $4.00 a month for and 
during each subsequent enlistment up to and including the seventh. 
For those whose initial pay, as set forth herein, is $18.00, $21.00, 
$24.00, or $30.00, an increase of $3.00 a month for and during the 
second enlistment, and a further increase of $3.00 a month for and 
during each subsequent enlistment up to and including the seventh. 
For those whose initial pay, as set forth herein, is $15.00 or $16.00, 
an increase of $15.00 a month for and during the second and third 
enlistments each, and a* further increase of $1.00 a month for and 
during each subsequent enlistment up to and including the seventh. 
When a soldier re-enlists within three months from the date of dis¬ 
charge at the termination of an enlistment period, his service is 
continuous for the purpose of the increase of pay provided herein. 
When a soldier has been honorably discharged at the termination of 
his first or any succeeding enlistment period and re-enlists after the 
expiration of three months, he is regarded as in his second enlist¬ 
ment, and a soldier who receives an honorable discharge for the con¬ 
venience of the Government, after having served more than half of 
his enlistment, is considered as having served an enlistment period. 

Any private soldier, musician, or trumpeter honorably dis¬ 
charged at the termination of his first enlistment period who re- 
enlists within three months of the date of said discharge is entitled 
upon such re-enlistment to an amount equal to three months’ pay 
at the rate he was receiving at the time of his discharge. 

Qualified gunner, first class, Artillery, $3.00 a month additional; 
qualified gunner, second class. Artillery, $2.00 a month additional; 
qualified expert rifleman, $5.00 a month additional; qualified sharp- 











United States Military Service. 133 

shooter, $3.00 a month additional; qualified marksman, $2.00 a 
month additional. In the Coast Artillery Corps: Casemate electri¬ 
cian, observer, first class, and plotter, $9.00 a month additional; 
chief planter, chief loader, observer, second class, gun commander, 
gun pointer, $7.00 a month additional. Cavalry and Field Artillery: 
Horseshoer, $9.00 a month additional. Mess sergeant, $6.00 a 
month additional. 

The pay of enlisted men “serving beyond the limits of the 
States comprising the Union and the Territories of the United 
States contiguous thereto (excepting Porto Rico and Hawaii)” is 
increased 20 per centum, and the time of such service is counted 
from the date of departure from the United States to the date of 
return thereto. Increase accrues on additional pay for length of 
service, gunners, expert riflemen, casemate electricians, etc. 

Whenever a soldier is honorably discharged at the expiration 
of his term of enlistment, or on account of disability, his travel-pay 
is ample to carry him to the place of enlistment. 

By care and economy, a soldier can save from his clothing 
allowance a considerable sum, payable to him on his discharge. 

The soldier can deposit his savings in sums of not less than 
$5.00 with any Army paymaster, and for sums so deposited for 
the period of six months or longer, the soldier, on his discharge, 
will be paid interest at the rate of 4 per centum per annum. These 
deposits are non-forfeitable except by desertion. 

Soldiers who have served honestly and faithfully for twenty 
years, or who have been discharged on account of wounds received 
or disease contracted in the line of duty, are entitled to admis¬ 
sion to the Soldiers’ Home in the city of Washington, District of 
Columbia. 

After thirty years’ service enlisted men are entitled to be re¬ 
tired, and upon retirement will receive three-fourths of the monthly 
pay allowed to them by law in the grade they held when retired, 
$9.50 a month additional as commutation for clothing and sub¬ 
sistence, and $6.25 a month additional in lieu of quarters, fuel, and 
light. In computing time for retirement, credit will be given to a 
soldier for double the time of his actual service in China, Cuba, 
Philippine Islands, Island of Guam, Alaska, and Panama if prior 
to 1912. 

A certificate of merit for distinguished service entitles a soldier 
to $2.00 a month additional while in the Army, whether on the 
active or the retired list. 


134 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

LOCATION OF GENERAL RECRUITING STATIONS 
OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 

RECRUIT DEPOTS. 

Columbus Barracks, Ohio; ‘Jefferson Barracks, Mo.; Fort Lo¬ 
gan, Colo.; Fort McDowell, Cal.; and Fort Slocum, N. Y. 

RECRUIT DEPOT-POSTS. 

Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Douglas, Utah; Fort George Wright, 
Wash.; Jackson Barracks, La.; Fort Lawton, Wash.; Fort Sam 
Houston, Texas; Fort Snelling, Minn.; Vancouver Barracks, Wash.; 
Fort William Henry Harrison, Mont. 

GENERAL RECRUITING STATIONS. 

Albany, N. Y., 513 Broadway. 

Allentown, Pa., 201 Commonwealth Bldg. 

Altoona, Pa., Post-office Bldg. 

Asheville, N. C., 3 S. Main St. 

Atlanta, Ga., 23 Whitehall St. 

Baltimore, Md., 204 W. Fayette St. 

Bangor, Me., 67 Exchange St. 

Bluefield, W. Va., Thornton Bldg. 

Boston, Mass., 73 Hanover St. 

Bridgeport, Conn., 62 Cannon St. 

Buffalo, N. Y., White Bldg., 298 Main St. 

Charleston, W. Va., 601 Kanawha St. 

Charlotte, N. C., 22 W. Trade St. 

Chattanooga, Tenn., Lovetnan Bldg., 20 E. Eighth St. 
Chicago, Ill., 601 W. Madison St., 14 S. Canal St., 323 
S. State St., 194 S. Clark St., 100 E. Van Buren St., 

488 S. State St., 2133 Wabash Ave., 9151 Commer¬ 
cial Ave. 

Cincinnati, Ohio, Burnet House, 303 Vine St. 

Clarksburg, W. Va., Irwin Bldg. 

Cleveland, Ohio, 54 Public Square. 

Columbus, Ohio, 222^ N. High St. 

Cumberland, Md., 39 Baltimore St. 

Dallas, Texas, 346 Main St. 

Danville, Ill., 34 N. Vermilion St. 

Dayton, Ohio, Fourth and Jefferson Sts. 

Denver, Colo., 1705 Lawrence St. 


United States Military Service. 

Detroit, Mich., 212 Griswold St. 

Duluth, Minn., Torrey Bldg. 

Evansville, Ind., 214^ Upper Second St. 

Fort Smith, Ark., 715 Garrison Ave. 

Fort Wayne, Ind., 702 Calhoun St. 

Fort Worth, Texas, 513^ Main St. 

Grand Rapids, Mich., 25 Canal St. 

Hannibal, Mo., 220 S. Main St. 

Harrisburg, Pa., Bergner Bldg., Third and Market Sts. 
Helena, Mont., Gold Block. 

Hoboken, N. J., 62 Newark St. 

Huntington, W. Va., McCrory Bldg., 905 Third Ave. 
Hutchinson. Kas., 5 S. Main St. 

Indianapolis, Ind., 25 N. Illinois St. 

Jacksonville, Fla., 108 W. Forsyth St. 

Jersey City, N. J., 47 Montgomery St., 169 Pavonia St. 
Johnson City, Tenn., 122 Buffalo St. 

Joplin, Mo., 416 Main St. 

Kansas City, Mo., 728 Main St. 

Knoxville, Tenn., 405^ W. Depot St. 

Uancaster, Pa., 49 N. Queen St. 

Lansing, Mich., 109 Washington Ave., S. 

Lexington, Ky., 139 E. Main St. 

Lima, Ohio, Market and Main Sts. 

Little Rock, Ark., Main and Markham Sts. 

Los Angeles, Cal., ii5j^ N. Main St. 

Louisville, Ky., 514 W. Jefferson St. 

Lowell, Mass., 84 Middlesex St. 

Macon, Ga., 411 Cherry St. 

Marion, Ind., Fourth and Adams Sts. 

Mattoon, Ills., 1506 Broadway. 

Memphis, Tenn., 126 North Court Ave. 

Middlesboro, Ky., Scarret Bldg. 

Minneapolis, Minn., 254 First Ave., S. 

Mobile, Ala., 217 Dauphin St. 

Muncie, Ind., 403 S. Walnut St. 

Muskogee, Okla., Flynn-Ames Bldg. 

Nashville, Tenn., 323 Fourth Ave., N. 

Newark, N. J., 266 Market St. 

New Haven, Conn., 890 Chapel St. 

New Orleans, La., 327 St. Charles St. 


135 


136 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 

New York City, N. Y., 25 Third Ave., 2362 Third Ave., 
749 Sixth Ave., 131 Park Row, 109 West St., 100 De- 
lancey St., 363 Fulton St., 269 Broadway, Brooklyn. 
Norfolk, Va., Columbia Bldg., Granby St. 

Oakland, Cal., 856 Broadway. 

Oklahoma City, Okla., Patterson Bldg., Main and 
Hudson Sts. 

Omaha, Neb., Thirteenth and Douglas Sts. 

Paducah, Ky., N. E. cor. Second and Broadway. 
Parkersburg, W. Va., 310^ Market-St. 

Paterson, N. J. 202 Market St. 

Peoria, Ill., 415 S. Adams St. 

Philadelphia, Pa., 1229 Arch St. 

Pittsburg, Kas., 305^ N. Broadway. 

Pittsburgh, Pa., 510 Smithfield St. 

Pittsfield, Mass., 21 North St. 

Portland, Me., 205^ Middle St. 

Portland, Ore., Ainsworth Block, Third and Oak Sts. 
Providence, R. I., 402 Westminster St. 

Pueblo, Colo., 130^ S. Union St. 

Reading, Pa., 619 Penn St. 

Richmond, Va., 820 E. Broad St. 

Roanoke, Va., Terry Bldg. 

Rochester, N. Y., 26 E. Main St. 

Sacramento, Cal., Stoll Bldg., 428 K St. 

Saginaw, Mich., Heavenrich Block. 

St. Joseph, Mo., 413P2 Edmond St. 

St. Louis, Mo., cor. Third and Olive Sts. and 1835 
Market St. 

St. Paul, Minn., 327 Jackson St. 

San Francisco, Cal., 660 Market’St. 

Savannah, Ga., 13 York St., W. 

Schenectady, N. Y., 437 State St. 

Scranton, Pa., 302 Lackawana Ave. 

Seattle, Wash., 335 Pioneer Bldg. 

Seymour, Ind. 

Sioux City, Iowa, Massachusetts Bldg. 

Somerset, Ky. 

Spokane, Wash., Zeigler Block, cor. Howard St. and 
Riverside Ave. 

Springfield, Ill., 100 East Side Square. 


United States Military Service. 137 

Springfield, Mass., 17 Hampden St. 

Springfield, Mo., College and Campbell Sts. 

Springfield, Ohio, High and Fountain Aves. 

Syracuse, N. Y., Bastable Bldg. 

Tacoma, Wash., 1151 Commerce St. 

Terre Haute, Ind., 709 Wabash Ave. 

Toledo, Ohio, 416 Adams St. 

Tulsa, Okla., 19 S. Main St. 

Utica, N. Y., Arcade Bldg. 

Vincennes, Ind., 13^ N. Second St. 

Wheeling, W. Va., Mutual Savings Bank Bldg. 

Wichita, Kas., Barnes Bldg., E. Douglas Ave. 

Worcester, Mass., 405 Main St. 

Youngstown, Ohio, 338^ W. Federal St. 

The locations of many of the recruiting 'offices, especially in 
the smaller cities, change frequently, but the new locations can 
always be easily located by inquiry. 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


138 


CHAPTER XII. 


Tim Army. 

THE MILITARY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF THE ARMY.—RANK AND 

PRECEDENCE OF OFFICERS AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.- 

APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS.—MILITARY DIVISION AND DE¬ 
PARTMENTS.—AUTHORIZED STRENGTH. 

No attempt can be made in this volume to give a brief history 
of the Army of the United States, or even a condensed outline of 
that organization. It is believed, however, that a very condensed 
statement of those things pertaining to the Army which seem 
uppermost in the mind of the civilian, or the embryo soldier, would 
be of especial aid to a large number of young men who are con¬ 
templating a military career. 

A study of the subjects selected will give a pretty thorough 
idea of the military system. The information is taken from War 
Department publications, and is authentic. 

The heading, “The Military Educational System of the Army,” 
will be of interest to those wholly uninformed as to the means and 
methods of acquiring efficiency in the military profession as prac¬ 
ticed in our Army. The greater part of this educational system 
has been the growth and adoption of recent years and tends to 
show the spirit of progressiveness permeating every branch and 
arm of the Service. 

THE MILITARY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF THE ARMY. 

The military educational system of the Army comprises the 
following: * 

1. The Military Academy at West Point for the education of 
cadets. 

2. Post schools for the instruction of enlisted men. 

3. At each military post a garrison school for the instruction 
of officers in subjects pertaining to the performance of their or¬ 
dinary duties. 

4. Service schools— 

a. The Army War College, Washington, D. C. 

b. The Army Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kans. 



United States Military Service. 139 

c. The Coast Artillery School, Fort Monroe, Va. 

d. The Engineer School, Washington Barracks, D. C. 

e. The Mounted Service School, Fort Riley, Kans. 

/. The Army Medical School, Washington, D. C. 

g. The Army Signal School, Fort Leavenworth, Kans. 

h. The Army School of the Line, Fort Leavenworth, Kans. 

i. The School for Bakers and Cooks, Washington Bar¬ 

racks, D. C. 

j The School for Bakers.and Cooks, Presidio of Mon¬ 
terey, Cal. 

k. The School for Bakers and Cooks, Fort Sam Houston, 

Texas. 

l . The School for Bakers and Cooks, Fort Shafter, Hawaii. 

m. The School for Bakers and Cooks, Fort Riley, Kans. 

n. The School for Bakers and Cooks, Fort William Mc¬ 

Kinley, P. I. 

0. The Army Field Engineer School, Fort Leavenworth, 
Kansas. 

p. The Army Field Service and Correspondence School for 

Medical Officers, Fort Leavenworth, Kans. 

q. The School of Fire for Field Artillery, Fort Sill, Okla. 

r. The School of Musketry, Fort Sill, Okla. 

s. The Signal Corps Aviation School, San Diego, Cal. 

t. The Signal Corps Aviation School, near New York City. 

u. The Signal Corps Aviation School, near Chicago, Ill. 

v. The U. S. Army Balloon School, Fort Omaha, Neb. 

w. The Ordnance School of Application, Sandy Hook Prov¬ 

ing Ground, N. J. 

x. The School for Saddlers and for Battery Mechanics of 

Field Artillery at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. 

5. The military department of civil institutions at which offi¬ 
cers of the Army are detailed under the provisions of law. 

The detail of officers at these institutions is announced, and 
the regulations governing the courses of instruction therein,are 
issued, in orders from the War Department. 

RANK AND PRECEDENCE OF OFFICERS AND 
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

Military rank is that character or quality bestowed on military 
persons which marks their station and confers eligibility to exercise 


140 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

command or authority in the military service within the limits pre¬ 
scribed by law. It is divided into degrees or grades, which mark 
the relative positions and powers of the different classes of persons 
possessing it. 

It is generally held by virtue of office in an arm of the Service, 
corps, or department, but may be conferred independently of office, 
as in the case of retired officers and those holding brevet rank. If, 
upon marches, guards, or in quarters, different corps of the Army 
happen to join or do duty together, the officer highest in rank of 
the line of the Army, Marine Corps, organized Militia, or Volunteers, 
by commission, there on duty or in quarters, shall command the 
whole and give orders for what is needful in the Service, unless oth¬ 
erwise specially directed by the President, according to the nature 
of the case. 

Officers of the organized Militia of the several States, when 
called into the service of the United States, shall, on all detachments, 
courts-martial, and other duty, wherein they may be employed in 
conjunction with the regular or volunteer forces of the United 
States, take rank next after all officers of the like grade in said regu¬ 
lar forces, and shall take precedence of all officers of the Volunteers 
of equal or inferior rank, notwithstanding the commissions of such 
Militia officers may be older than the commissions of the said 
officers of the regular forces of the United States. 

The following are the grades of rank of officers and non¬ 
commissioned officers: 

1. Lieutenant-general. 

2. Major-general. 

3. Brigadier-general. 

4. Colonel. 

5. Lieutenant-colonel. 

6. Major. 

7. Captain. 

8. * First lieutenant. 

9. Second lieutenant. 

10. Veterinarian, Cavalry and Field Artillery. 

11. Cadet, United States Military Academy. 

12. (a) Sergeant-major, regimental; sergeant-major, senior grade. 

Coast Artillery; ( b ) quartermaster sergeant, senior grade, 
Quartermaster Corps; master hospital sergeant, master 
engineer, senior grade, Corps of Engineers; master electri¬ 
cian, Coast Artillery; master signal electrician; band leader; 



United States Military Service. 141 

( c ) hospital sergeant, engineer, Coast Artillery; ( d ) electri¬ 
cian sergeant, first class, Coast Artillery. 

13. Ordnance sergeant; quartermaster sergeant, Quartermaster 

Corps; supply sergeant, regimental. 

14. Sergeant-major, squadron and battalion; sergeant-major, ju¬ 

nior grade, Coast Artillery Corps; supply sergeant, battalion, 
Corps of Engineers. 

15. (a) First sergeant; (6) sergeant, first class, Medical Depart¬ 

ment; sergeant, first class, Quartermaster Corps; sergeant, 
first class, Corps of Engineers; sergeant, first class, Signal 
Corps; electrician sergeant, first class, Coast Artillery Corps; 
assistant engineer, Coast Artillery Corps; ( c ) master gun¬ 
ner, Coast Artillery Corps; master gunner, Artillery De¬ 
tachment, Military Academy; band sergeant and assistant 
leaders, Military Academy band; assistant band leader; 
sergeant bugler; electrician sergeant, second class, Coast 
Artillery Corps; electrician sergeant, second class, Artillery 
Detachment, Military Academy; radio sergeant. 

16. Color sergeant. 

17. Sergeant; supply sergeant, company; mess sergeant; stable 

sergeant; fireman, Coast Artillery Corps. 

18. Corporal. 

In each grade and sub-grade, date of commission, appointment, 
or warrant determines the order of. precedence, except as above 
noted. 

APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS. 
Appointment to the grade of brigadier-general is usually made 
by selection from the Army, and usually from the colonels. The 
President, however, may appoint anyone he wishes, even a private 
soldier. Within recent years appointments have been made to this 
grade from the Volunteers. 

Promotions in established staff corps and departments are lim¬ 
ited to officers holding permanent appointments therein and to in¬ 
clude the grade of colonel will be made by seniority, subject to the 
examination required by law. 

Promotions in the line of the Army to include the grade of 
colonel, in each arm of the Service, will be made by seniority, sub¬ 
ject to the required examinations. 

Surgeons of the Army enter the Service, subject to the exam¬ 
ination prescribed by law, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a 


142 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

first lieutenant of Cavalry. After three years’ service, they receive 
the rank, pay, and allowances of a captain of Cavalry. 

Chaplains enter the Army with the rank, pay, and allowances 
of a first lieutenant, mounted. They are commissioned officers. 
After seven years’ service, they receive the rank, pay, and allow¬ 
ances of a captain, mounted. From time to time the President 
selects for promotion to the grade of major chaplains having not less 
than ten years’ service in the grade of captain and who have been 
commended as worthy of special distinction for exceptional effi¬ 
ciency. The number so promoted can not at any time exceed 
fifteen. 

No candidate can be appointed chaplain unless he is a regularly 
ordained minister of some religious denomination; is in good stand¬ 
ing in such denomination; is recommended for appointment by 
some authorized ecclesiastical body, or by not less than five accred¬ 
ited ministers of the same; is not over forty years of age, and passes 
a satisfactory examination as to his moral, mental, and physical 
qualifications. 

Oaths of office of officers of the Army will be taken before 
some officer who is authorized by the law of the United States or by 
the local municipal law to administer oaths; before the judge- 
advocate of a department or of a court-martial, or before the trial 
officer of a summary court. Officers of the Army other than those 
above specified are not authorized to administer such oaths. 

All officers below the rank of major are examined, mentally 
and physically, for promotion. In the Medical Corps the majors are 
also examined. 

All notices of appointment and promotions are issued by the 
War Department through the office of the Adjutant General of 
the Army. 


military departments. 

For purposes of administration, the United States and island 
possessions are divided into territorial departments, and commanders 
are assigned by the President. 

The commander of a territorial department commands all the 
military forces of the Government within its limits, whether of the 
line or staff, which are not excepted from his control by the War 
Department. The Army War College, the Army Staff College, the 
Engineer School, the Coast Artillery School, the School of Sub¬ 
marine Defense, the Army School of the Line, the Army Signal 


United States Military Service. 143 

School, and the Mounted Service School in all that pertains to 
the courses of instruction or their separate organizations and ad¬ 
ministration as schools, the Military Academy, the Army Medical 
School at Washington, D. C., the arsenals, the general depots of 
supplies, the general Service recruiting stations, the general recruit 
depots, the United States Military Prison and any branch thereof, 
general hospitals, such permanent fortifications as may be in process 
of construction, and officers employed on special duty under the 
Secretary of War, are excepted from control of such commanders. 
But in the matter of trials by general court-martial all officers and 
enlisted men stationed within a department remain, notwithstand¬ 
ing the exemptions of this regulation, under the jurisdiction of the 
department commander, to whom charges will be forwarded through 
the usual channels. 

A department is commanded by a major-general or brigadier- 
general. 

The following are the territorial departments of the United 
States and dependencies, with headquarters: 

THE EASTERN DEPARTMENT. 

Embraces the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Canal Zone, 
and Porto Rico; headquarters, Governor’s Island, N. Y, 

THE NORTHEASTERN DEPARTMENT. 

Embraces the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, 
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut; headquarters, Bos¬ 
ton, Mass. 

THE CENTRAL DEPARTMENT. 

Embraces the States of West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Mich¬ 
igan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado; head¬ 
quarters, Chicago, III. 

THE SOUTHEASTERN DEPARTMENT. 

Embraces the States of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Car¬ 
olina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Ark¬ 
ansas; headquarters. Charleston, S. C. 

THE SOUTHERN DEPARTMENT. 

Embraces the States of Texas (except Galveston), Oklahoma, 
New Mexico, and Arizona; headquarters, Fort Sam Houston, Tex. 


144 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT. 

Embraces the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, 
Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah, and the Territory of Alaska; 
headquarters, San Francisco, Cal. 

THE PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT. 

Embraces all the islands of the Philippine Archipelago; head¬ 
quarters, Manila, P. I. 

THE HAWAIIAN DEPARTMENT. 

Embraces the Hawaiian Islands and their dependencies; head¬ 
quarters, Honolulu, H. T. 


United States Military Service. 


i45 


CHAPTER XIII. 


A Few Words from a Soldier’s Dictionary. 

B-achE —To complain. 

Beans —The commissary sergeant. 

Bean-shooter—A commissary officer. 

Belly-ache —To complain. (See B-ache.) 

Black Strap —Liquid coffee. 

Blind —Sentenced by a court-martial to forfeiture of pay, without 
confinement. 

Bob-tail —A dishonorable discharge, or a discharge without honor. 
The word came from a former custom in the Service of cutting 
off the bottom of the discharge, the “character” part, when a 
soldier had been sentenced to dishonorable dismissal. 

Bob-tailed —Dishonorably discharged. Leaving the Service with¬ 
out “character.” 

Bone —To study; to try; to earnestly seek. 

Boot-lick —To cultivate favor by sycophantic methods; an obse¬ 
quious flatterer; a parasite. 

Bow-legs—A cavalryman. 

Bucking for Orderly —The act of cleaning clothing and equip¬ 
ment preparatory to going on guard with the view of being 
adjudged by the adjutant or inspecting officer the neatest man 
at guard-mounting, and consequently being selected as orderly 
for the commanding officer. Competing for orderly. 

Buck-private—A term sometimes used in referring to a private 
soldier. 

Bunk Fatigue —Lying on one’s bunk during fatigue hours; having 
no duty to perform. 

BunkiE —The soldier occupying the adjoining bunk or bed; a 
soldier who shares the same shelter as a comrade. 

Bust —To reduce a non-commissioned officer to the grade of private. 

Butter Chips —The mythical checks which recruits are often in¬ 
structed to demand of the “top sergeant.” 

Butcher —The company barber. 

Button Stick —A flat piece of metal or wood having a narrow slit 
in the center into which the buttons are run when being scoured 
with metal polish. The stick protects the cloth from the 
polish. 



146 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

Canned Horse —Canned beef. 

Canteen Checks —Brass checks of various denominations, having 
a purchasing value at the post canteen. 

Chasing Prisoners —On guard over prisoners at work. 

Chief —Name by which the chief musician of the band is frequently 
called by the enlisted men. 

CiT—A civilian. (See Juniper.) 

Cits —Civilian clothes. 

C. O.—The commanding officer. (See K. O.) 

Coffee-cooper —A soldier who seeks and performs duties that ex¬ 
cuse him from the usual or strictly military duties of a soldier. 

Coffee-money —Money paid soldiers, when traveling, in lieu of 
their regular coffee ration. 

Cold Feet —Tack of courage; fear; afraid. 

Commissaries —Food-stuffs; groceries; the articles issued by the 
commissary department. 

Come-and-get-it —A soldier-cook’s words to notify his comrades 
that the meal is prepared and ready to serve. 

Commission-bucker —An enlisted man who is trying for a com¬ 
mission as a second lieutenant. 

Cook’s Police —Men detailed to assist the cook in the kitchen. 

Cracker Line —The line of communication with the base of com¬ 
missary supplies; sometimes applied to the transportation used 
in bringing up the commissary supplies or rations. 

Crawl—A mild form of reprimand. (See Jump.) 

Dadiac —A liquid polish used in polishing leather equipment. It 
was well known to the “Old Army,” but is now little used. It 
is also used as a verb to designate the act of polishing leather 
equipment. 

Dog-robber —An enlisted man who works for an officer. It is an 
offensive term. (See Striker.) 

Dough-boy —An infantryman. (See Mud-splasher.) 

Dough-puncher —The post baker. 

Duff—A plum pudding. 

Duty Sergeant —A company sergeant other than the first ser¬ 
geant or the company quartermaster-sergeant. 

Fatigue —Work; any duties of the nature of manual labor. 

Feed —Food; rations: victuals; to eat. 

File —A man; an individual; a number on the lineal list. 

Finals —Money due a soldier from the Government at the date of 
his discharge, 


United States Military Service. 147 

Fogy— Five years’ service; the increase in pay for five years’ service. 

Found— Failed; deficient in something, especially in an examin¬ 
ation. 

French Leave— Unauthorized absence. 

Goat —The junior officer in the post or regiment. (See Shavey.) 

Goaty —Inexperienced; unsophisticated; awkward. 

Guard-house Lawyer —An enlisted man who is constantly giving 
free advice, especially to recruits, as to their rights, etc. 

Gun—A general term designating the arm supplied a soldier; a 
rifle, carbine, or revolver. 

Hand-shaker —Same as “coffee-cooler.” 

Hardtack —Hard bread; the crackers issued by the commissary 
department as a part of the field ration; usually a very hard 
cracker. 

Heelball—A wax-like substance used in polishing leather and the 
stocks of rifles. 

Hero-stories —Tales of reminiscences told by men returning from 
field service which are considered of doubtful veracity. 

Hike —A march; to march. 

Hobo —The provost-sergeant. 

Hold-up-your-hand —The act of enlisting. (See Take On.) 

Holy Joe—T he chaplain. (See Sky Pilot.) 

Hop—A dance. 

“How”—The Army toast. 

I. C.—Inspected and condemned. 

Jawbone—O n credit. 

Jump— A mild form of reprimand. 

Juniper— A civilian; any person not in the military service. (See 
Cit.) 

Kitchen Police— (See Cook’s Police.) 

K. O.—The .commanding officer. 

Lance-;ack—A lance corporal; an acting corporal. 

Leather-pounder— A cavalryman; a mounted soldier. 

Locker—A box or closet in which soldiers keep their extra clothing. 

Long Tom— The Infantry rifle. 

Major— Name by which the sergeant-major is called by the enlisted 
men. 

MESS Hall— The room in which a ompany or other organization 
eats its meals. 

Mex— Half. Comes from the comparative value of Mexican silver 
money with United States money. 


148 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

Mill —The guard-house; a cell or room in which soldiers are con¬ 
fined when serving punishment for the commission of military 
offenses. 

Mud-splasher —An infantryman; a dismounted soldier. (See 
Dough-boy.) 

Mule-skinner—A teamster. 

Non-com —A non-commissioned officer. 

O. D.—The officer of the day. 

Officers’ Line —The quarters or houses where the officers and their 
families live. 

Officers’ Row —Same as Officers’ Line. 

Old Issue—A n old soldier. 

Old Man —The commanding officer. (See The Old Man.) 

Old File —An old officer; sometimes applied to an old soldier. 

On Official Terms—N ot on speaking terms, except officially. 

Openers—A laxative. 

Orderly BuckER—A soldier who tries for orderly to the command¬ 
ing officer when going on guard. (See Bucking for Orderly.) 

Orderly-room —The company, troop, or battery office. 

Pills —The doctor. Sometimes applied to the hospital steward. 

Plum Duff —Plum pudding. (See Duff.) 

Police —To cleanse; to free from dirt; to clean up around the 
barracks or quarters. 

Pull-through —A string used for pulling rags through the bore 
of a rifle. 

Punk—L ight bread. 

Q. M.—The quartermaster. 

Quarters —The barracks; the houses where the officers live. 

Ranked Out —Compelled to vacate quarters to a senior. 

Rear —The water-closet, or toilet-room. 

Red Tape —The strict observance of form; excessive observance of 
form and routine in official matters. 

Regimental Monkey—T he drum-major. 

Re-up —To re-enlist at once. 

Rookie —A raw recruit. 

Room Orderly —A soldier detailed to clean the barracks or squad- 
room. His duties are to build the fires, fill the lamps, and see 
that everything is in order during his tour of duty. 

Sand Rat —An officer or soldier on duty behind the targets at rifle 
practice. 

Sawbone —The doctor. 


United States Military Service. 149 

ShavEy, or Shave-tail —An officer just appointed to the Service; 
usually applied to the newest second lieutenant. 

Shutters —An astringent. 

Sky Pilot —The chaplain. 

Sky Scout —The chaplain. 

Sinkers—D umplings. 

Slapjacks—P ancakes. 

Slum —Irish stew; a stew made of meat, potatoes, and onions. 

Slumgullion —Same as Slum. 

Soapsuds Row- —The laundresses’ quarters. 

Sounding-off —Voluble language of doubtful veracity. 

Sow-belly —Bacon. 

Stars and Stripes —Beans. 

Striker—A soldier who works for an officer. (See Dog-robber.) 

Take On—T o enlist. 

The Old Man —Sometimes used in referring to the commanding 
officer. Soldiers frequently apply the term to their company 
commander. 

Toad-sticker—A sword. 

To Soldier —To shirk. 

To Take Another Blanket —See Take On. 

Top Sergeant—T he first sergeant. 

Tripoli —A fine, gritty powder, which, mixed with vinegar or alcohol, 
is used for polishing brass buttons and brass parts of equipment. 

Turn Out —To appear outside barracks for police or other duties. 

Vamoose —Get away; get out. 

Wagon Soldier—A field artilleryman; formerly alight batteryman. 

Wind-jammer —A field musician; a trumpeter. 

White Money —Silver money. The word is used by soldiers in 
contradistinction from canteen checks, which are usually made 
of brass, and when so made are called “yellow money.” 

Within the Limits —Within the period which the War Department 
allows an enlisted man to re-enlist in order to get his re-enlisted 
pay; three months from date of discharge. 

Wood-butcher —The company artificer. 

Year and a Butt —A year and a fraction of a year. A soldier who 
is started on the second year of a three-year enlistment would 
say that he had “a year and a butt” yet to serve. 

Yellow-legs —Cavalrymen. 

Youngster—A young officer in point of years of service; usually a 
second lieutenant. 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


150 


CHAPTER XIV. 


Military Schools and Colleges. 

MILITARY INSTRUCTION.-DISTINGUISHED INSTITUTIONS, APPOINT¬ 
MENT OF HONOR GRADUATES.-CLASSIFICATION OF INSTITUTIONS. 

-LIST OF INSTITUTIONS HAVING ARMY DETAILS. 

Congress has authorized the Secretary of War to detail for duty 
as professors of military science and tactics one hundred officers 
of the Regular Army to be equitable distributed among the educa¬ 
tional institutions of the different States and Territories. 

MILITARY INSTRUCTION. 

It is the duty of these officers to enforce proper military dis¬ 
cipline at all times when students are under military instruction and 
to give instruction in Infantry Drill Regulations, Small-Arms Firing 
Regulations, Field Service Regulations, and the Manual of Guard 
Duty. The instruction must be practical. Theoretical work on 
these and other military subjects may be undertaken if the students 
have sufficient time and after they have become efficient in the 
practical work. 

Infantry drill and training is considered paramount. Instruc¬ 
tion in Artillery and other branches of the Service will not be 
undertaken unless the instruction in Infantry tactics has reached a 
satisfactory plane of efficiency. 

The main object of the military instruction given at these 
institutions is to qualify students to become efficient officers of 
Infantry, Volunteers or Militia. 

Pupils under military instruction at civil institutions of learn¬ 
ing are organized into companies? battalions, and regiments of In¬ 
fantry, the organization, drill, and administration of which must 
conform, as far as possible, to those of the Army. 

The rules and orders relating to the organization and govern¬ 
ment of the military students, the appointment, promotion, and 
change of student officers, and all other orders affecting the military 
department, excepting those relating to routine duty, are made and 
promulgated by the Army officer on duty at the school. 

Students are required to appear in uniform on occasions of 
ceremony, execution of drills, guard duty, and when receiving any 
other practical military instruction. 



United States Military Service. 151 

The theoretical instruction, where time permits, consists of 
talks and lectures covering the essential details of the subjects a 
company officer of Infantry, Volunteers or Militia, should know. 

These institutions are inspected annually by an officer of the 
General Staff of the Army, the inspections taking place between 
April 1 st and June 1st of each year. 

DISTINGUISHED INSTITUTIONS. 

“The President of the United States authorizes the announce¬ 
ment that an appointment as second lieutenant in the Regular 
Army will be awarded annually to an honor graduate of each of the 
institutions designated as ‘ Distinguished Institutions’ for that year, 
provided that sufficient vacancies exist after the appointment of the 
graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point 
and the successful competitors in the annual examination of en¬ 
listed men. By the term ‘honor graduate’ is understood a gradu¬ 
ate whose'attainments in scholarship have been so marked as to 
receive the approbation of the president of the school or college, 
and whose proficiency in military training and knowledge and in¬ 
telligent attention to duty have merited the approbation of the 
professor of military science and tactics.’’—G. O., 231, W. D., 1910. 

Institutions having officers detailed to them are supplied with 
arms, ammunition, equipment, and military text-books by the War 
Department. 

CLASSIFICATION OF INSTITUTIONS. 

They are classified annually by the officers of the General Staff 
who make the inspections, according to the following plan of 
classification: 

Class A. Schools or colleges whose organization is essentially 
military, whose students are habitually in uniform, in which mili¬ 
tary discipline is constantly maintained, and one of whose leading 
objects is the development of the student by means of military 
drill, and by regulating his daily conduct according to the principles 
of military discipline. 

Class B. State land grant or agricultural colleges -established 
under the provisions of the Act of Congress of July 2, 1862, and 
which are required by said Act to include military tactics in their 
curriculum. 

Class BA. Any college of Class B which attains the state of 


152 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

efficiency required for schools or colleges of Class A shall be classed 
as BA. 

Class C. All schools or colleges not essentially military which 
maintain a course of military instruction equal or superior in char¬ 
acter and hours of instruction to that required of institutions of 
Class B. 

Class D. All other schools or colleges at which officers of the 
Army may be detailed and which do not maintain a course of mili¬ 
tary instruction equal to that required of institutions of Class B, 
and at which such instruction is regarded as nominal. 

Institutions, not exceeding ten, whose students have exhibited 
the greatest application and proficiency in military training and 
knowledge during the year are designated annually as “Distin¬ 
guished Institutions.” An asterisk against the name of an institu¬ 
tion indicates that it is one of those that have been so . designated, 
the year or years in which it was designated being placed after the 
name of the institution. 


LIST OF INSTITUTIONS HAVING ARMY DETAILS. 

State. Name of Institution. Class. 

Arizona_University of Arizona, Tucson_ q 

Arkansas_Ouachita College. Arkadelphia_ 0 

University of Arkansas. Fayetteville__g 

California_University of California. Berkeley_ g 

Mount Tamalpais Military Academy, San Rafael— __ IIII a 

The Harvard School. Los Angeles._ 

Colorado_State Agricultural College of Colorado. Ft. Collins— 11 ” g 

Delaware_Delaware College, Newark_B 

Florida_University of Florida. Gainesville_ g 

Georgia_Georgia Military College. Milledgeville_c 

North Georgia Agricultural College. Dahlonega_IIII IBA 

Gordon Institute, Barnesville_ ” q 

University of Georgia, Athens_I_-IIII"~ g 

Georgia Military Academy, College Park_ ' _ A 

Hawaii Territory. _The Kamehameha Schools. Honolulu_I_” ' a 

Idaho-University of Idaho. Moscow_g 

Illinois-University of Illinois. Urbana_g 

Indiana-Concordia College. Fort Wayne_ a 

University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame_”” 

Purdue University, Lafayette_ _ " g 

*Culver Military Academy. Culver (1906, 1907,' "1908, 

1909)_ a 

Iowa-Simpson College. Indianola_IIIIIIIII.III" C 

State University of Iowa, Iowa City_"II —_ I I C 

Kansas-Kansas State Agricultural College. Manhattan!_IIIIIII B 

Kentucky-State University, Lexington_ _ g 

Kentucky Military Institute, LyndonlllHIII " A 









































United States Military Service. 


i 53 


LIST OF INSTITUTIONS HAVING ARMY DETAILS—Con. 

State. Name of Institution. Class. 

Louisiana -- Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechan¬ 
ical College, Baton Rouge _ B 

Maine _ University of Maine, Orono _ B 

Maryland ___ *St. John’s College, Annapolis (1905, 1909, 1910) _ A 

^Maryland Agricultural College, College Park _ BA 

Massachusetts _ Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst _ B 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston _ B 

Michigan, _ Michigan Agricultural College, Lansing _ B 

Minnesota _ „ _ ^College of St. Thomas, St. Paul (1908-1909) _ A 

*Shattuck School, Faribault (1904, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909). A 

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis _ B 

Mississippi _ Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College. Agricul¬ 
tural College _ BA 

Missouri _ Drury College, Springfield - C 

Wentworth Military Academy, Lexington _ A 

Kemper Military School, Boonville _ A 

University of Missouri, Columbia _ B 

Nebraska _ University of Nebraska, Lincoln _ B 

Nevada _ University of Nevada, Reno _ B 

New Hampshire _ New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic 

Arts, Durham _ B 

New Jersey _ Rutgers Scientific School, New Brunswick _ B 

New Mexico _ New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, 

Agricultural College _1 C 

*New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell (1909-4910). A 

New York _ College of St. Francis Xavier, New York City .' _ C 

*St. John’s School, Manlius (1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 

1909, 1910) _______ A 

Cornell University, Ithaca _ B 

De La Salle Institute, New York Oi,ty - C 

New York Military Academy, Cornwall-on-Hudson - A 

Riverview Academy, Poughkeepsie _ A 

North Carolina. .. .North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, 

West Raleigh ..._1 B 

North Dakota..North Dakota Agricultural College, Fargo - B 

Ohio _ Miami Military Institute, Germantown _ A 

Ohio State University, Columbus — _ _ B 

Ohio Northern University, Ada _ C 

Wilberforce University, Wilberforce (Colored) - C 

Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware. - C 

Oklahoma _ Oklahoma Agricultural College, Stillwater - B 

Oklahoma University Preparatory School, Tonkawa - C 

Oregon _ Oregon Agricultural College, Corvallis - B 

Pennsylvania _ Grove City College, Grove City - C 

Girard College, Philadelphia _ C 

*Pennsylvania Military College, Chester (1904, 1905, 1906, 

1907, 1908, 1909, 1910) _ A 

Pennsylvania State College, State College -...- B 

Porto Rico _ University of Porto Rico, Rio Piedras - C 

Rhode Island _ Rhode Island State College, Kingston - B 



























































154 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


LIST OF INSTITUTIONS HAVING ARMY DETAILS—Con. 

State. Name of Institution. Class. 

South Carolina_Clemson Agricultural College, Clemson College-BA 

*The Citadel, Charleston (1904, 1905, 1908, 1909, 1910).._ A 

South Dakota_South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic 

Arts, Brookings_ B 

Tennessee_Sewanee Military Academy, Sewanee- C 

University of-Tennessee, Knoxville- B 

Columbia Military Academy, Columbia. -- A 

Texas_The Peacock Military College, San Antonio--- A 

West Texas Military Academy, San Antonio--— A 

^Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, College 

Station (1910)_BA 

Utah_Agricultural College of Utah, Logan- B 

Vermont_^Norwich University, Northfield (1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 

1908, 1909, 1910)_ A 

University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, 

Burlington.- B 

Virginia_Fork Union Military Academy, Fork Union- C 

*Virginia Military Institute, Lexington (1904, 1905, 1906, 

1907, 1908, 1909, 1910)_ A 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg-BA 

Washington.-State College of Washington, Pullman.. - B 

University of Washington, Seattle--. 

West Virginia_West Virginia University, Morgantown. -- B 

Wisconsin_University of Wisconsin, Madison- B 

St. John’s Military Academy, Delafield.-- A 

Wyoming.__University of Wyoming, Laramie_ B 


Officers are detailed to the above institutions under the pro¬ 
visions of Section 1225, R. S., as amended by the Acts of Congress 
approved September 26, 1888, January 13, 1891, and November 
3 , 1893 - 

The following institutions have 


OFFICERS DETAILED UNDER SECTION 1260 , R. S., AND 
THE ACTS OF CONGRESS APPROVED MAY 4 , 1880 , 
AUGUST 6, 1894 , FEBRUARY 26 , 1901 , AND 
APRIL 21 , 1904 . 

State. Name of Institution. Class. 

California-Hitchcock Military Academy, San Rafael._ A 

St. Matthew’s Military School, Burlingame_ 

Missouri-Blees Military Academy, Macon___ 

Texas_Carlisle Military Academy, Arlington_ 







































United States Military Service. 


*55 


CHAPTER XV. 


Specimen Questions. 

The following specimen list of questions has been published 
by the Adjutant General’s office as a sample for the information of 
candidates. This list of questions was asked in an examination in 
July, 1908. It is not likely that any of them will be asked again, 
but the list gives an idea of the scope of the examination. The 
candidate should be prepared to answer anything which can legiti¬ 
mately come under the head of the subjects covered. 

ARITHMETIC. 

Each question values 10; total value, 50. 

1. At what rate will $576 earn $86.40 in 2 years 6 months? 

2. A garrison consists of 60 cavalrymen, 90 artillerymen, 150 

engineers, and 225 infantrymen. A guard detail of 70 men 
is required. What number should each organization properly 
furnish? 

3. A square parade-ground is to contain 140 acres, 100 square 

rods. How long is a side? 

4. Required the dimensions in inches of a cube that shall have 

the same capacity as a box 2 feet 8 inches long, 2 feet 3 
inches wide, and 1 foot 4 inches high. 

5. What is the amount of $100 at 5 per cent compound interest 

for 9 years? (Use logarithms and geometrical progression.) 

6. If 18 men can dig a trench 30 yards long in 24 days of 8 hours 

each, how many men will it need to dig a trench 60 yards 
long in 64 days of 6 hours each? 

7. At what time between 11 and 12 o’clock are the hands of a 

clock opposite each other? 

8. (a) What is the cost of painting a spire, in the form of a 

quadrangular pyramid, each side of whose base is 18 
feet and whose slant height is 80 feet, at 50 cents per 
square yard? 

( b ) What are the cubic contents of a triangular pyramid 
the sides of whose base are 11, 13, and 20 feet and whose 
altitude is 36 feet? 



156 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

9. By logarithms, find the value of: 

, (a) (.07396) 5 . 

3 

( b ) V- 035063- 

10. Solve by logarithms: 

.5134 


8.709 X .0946 
ALGEBRA. 

Each question values 10; total value, 50. 

1. Clear of fractions and reduce: 

X 4 — B 4 ] f X 2 + BX 


X 2 + 2 BX + B 2 J [ X —B 

2. A merchant bought a bill of goods, which he sold for $56.00 

and thereby gained a per cent equal to the number of dol¬ 
lars which the gqods cost him. Required: The cost of 
goods. 

3. The sum of two numbers is 40. If three times the smaller be 

subtracted from two times the greater, the remainder will 
be 15. What are the numbers? 

4. Three years ago A’s age was p2 of B’s, and 9 years hence it will 

be ^ of it. What is the age of each? 

5. Upon a grocer being asked what he paid for eggs, he replied: 

“Six dozen cost as many cents as I can buy eggs for 32 
cents.” What was the price per dozen? 

6. What fraction will be doubled when the numerator is mul¬ 

tiplied by 4 and 3 is added to the denominator, but will 
be halved when 2 is added to the numerator and the de¬ 
nominator is multiplied by 4? 

7. A gentleman purchased two square lots of ground for $300. 

Each of them cost as many cents per square rod as there 
were rods in a side of the other. The sums of the perimeters 
of both was 200 rods. What was the cost of each? 

8. Divide 100 into two parts so that the sum of their square 

roots is 14. 







United States Military Service . . 157 

9. A regiment in garrison, consisting of a certain number of 
companies, receives orders to send 216 men on duty, each 
company to furnish an equal number. Before the order 
is executed, three companies leave, and it is then found 
that each remaining company has to send 12 men addi¬ 
tional to make up the complement, 216. Required: (a) 
Number of companies in regiment; {b) number of men sent 
by each remaining company. 

10. A regiment of troops was drawn up in a solid square with a 
certain number on a side, when it was found that there were 
295 men left. Upon arranging the regiment so that there 
were 5 men more on each side, no more men were left. How 
many men were there in the regiment? 

geometry. 

Each question values 10; total value, 50. 

1. An inscribed angle is measured by what? Demonstrate. 

(One case will be sufficient.) 

2. A straight line perpendicular to a radius at its extremity bears 

what relation to the circle? Demonstrate. 

3. The three perpendiculars from the vertices of a triangle to the 

opposite sides meet in the same point. Demonstrate. 

4. (a) How would you inscribe a regular hexagon in a given 

circle? 

(b) Assuming the construction as made, demonstrate. 

5. In any right triangle, the straight line drawn from the vertex 

of the right angle to the middle of the hypothenuse equals 
yi of the hypothenuse. Demonstrate. 

6. If the circumference of a circle be divided into any number 

of equal parts, the chords joining the successive points of di¬ 
vision form a regular polygon inscribed in the circle; and 
the tangents drawn at the points of division form a regular 
polygon circumscribed about the circle. Demonstrate. 

7. What is the area of a regular polygon? Demonstrate that 

this formula is true. 

8. Of all triangles formed with the same two given sides, that in 

which these sides are perpendicular to each other is the 
maximum. Demonstrate. 


158 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

9. Through any given straight line an infinite number of 
may be passed. Demonstrate. 

10. The lateral area of a cone of revolution is equal to 
Demonstrate. 

TRIGONOMETRY. 

Each question values 10; total value, 50. 

1. A railroad 463 feet 6 inches in length has a uniform grade of 3 

degrees. Find the total rise. 

2. An engineer built a road and found that it rose 117 feet per 

mile. Find the grade. 

3. Two inaccessible objects lie in a direct line from the bottom 

of an 120-foot tower and are on the same horizontal plane 
as its base. From the top of the tower, the angle of de¬ 
pression of the nearer is found to be 57 degrees, and that of 
the farther 25 degrees and 30 minutes. What is the distance 
between the objects? 

4. In endeavoring to find the distance from a tree A to another 

tree B, direct measurement being prevented by a pond, the 
distances of a point C from each of the trees were found to 
be as follows: 

CB, 672 yards. 

CA, 588 yards. 

The angle ABC was found to be 55 degrees 40 minutes. 
Required: The distance between the two trees. 

5. A tower 103 feet high casts a shadow upon the horizontal plane 

of its base 51.5 feet in length. Find the angle of elevation 
of the sun. 

56150—08-2 

6. A ladder 38 feet in length, placed in a street, touches a point 

29 feet 6 inches in height on a vertical wall on one side of 
the street, or a point 28 feet in height on the opposite wall. 
Required: The width of the street. 

(Solutions other than trigonometrical will not be con¬ 
sidered.) 

7. From the top of a tower 80 feet in height the angle of ele¬ 

vation to the top of a second tower on the same horizontal 
plane is 28° 15', and the angle of depression to its foot is 33 0 


planes 

what? 


United States Military Service. 159 

08'. Find the distance between their bases, that between 
their tops, and the height of the second tower. 

8. The angles of elevation of the top of a flagstaff from two points 

1,237 feet apart, on a horizontal straight line passing through 
its foot, are 4 0 09' and 26° 29'. Find its height. 

9. On a hill stands a tower 50 feet in height, to the top and the 

bottom of which the angles of elevation from a given point 
are 49 0 io', and 44 0 37', respectively. Find the height of 


the hill above that point. 

10. Given: 

Latitude of Sandy Hook_40° 30' N. 

Longitude of Sandy Hook_74 0 05' W. 

Latitude of Queenstown_51 0 50' N. 

Longitude of Queenstown_8° io' W. 


Find the length (in statute miles) of the arc of a great 
circle joining them. 

Note. —The radius of the earth is 3,963 statute miles. 
SURVEYING. 

Each question values 10; total value, 50. 

1. What is a map? 

What is a scale? Name three ways in which a scale may 
be stated. 

2. What is a vernier scale? In regard to the manner in which 

read, how are verniers designated? What do you understand 
by the “least count’’ or “smallest reading”? 

3. Describe Gunter’s chain. 

Describe the Engineer’s chain. 

4. Given a chain and pins, show how you would continue a line 

past an obstacle by means of rectangular offsets. 

5. Name the adjustments of the transit (Engineer’s). 

6. What are the objects to be accomplished in adjusting a wye 

level? 

7. What are contours and what three things do they show? 

8. How would you determine a true north-and-south line by 

means of the sun and a plumb-line? 






160 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

9. State how you would make locations by intersection, using 

a plane table. 

10. A map was reduced by photography so that its area was }i of 
the original. The representative fraction on the original 
was 21 i 20 - 

A graphical scale was also shown on the original. Should 
any change have been made in either scale on the photo¬ 
graphic reduction? If so, what? 

EXAMINATION IN ARMY REGULATIONS. 

Value of each question, 5; total value, 100. 

1. How is military authority exercised, and to what must punish¬ 

ment conform? 

2. What is forbidden to superiors? 

3. What is required as to courtesy, respect to superiors, etc.? 

4. What is the command appropriate to each grade? 

5. How is the death of an officer reported? 

6. When an enlisted man is detached from his company, what 

paper will be made out, by whom, and where sent? 

7. How are transfers of enlisted men effected? 

8. When a soldier deserts, what steps are taken and by whom? 

9. In how many ways may an enlisted man be discharged? Name 

them. 

10. In case of the death of a soldier, what is the duty of his im¬ 

mediate commander? 

11. In Cavalry and Infantry, what is the administrative unit? 

What station is the headquarters of a regiment? Upon 
whom does the command of a regiment devolve during the 
absence of the colonel? 

12. Who is responsible for the discipline of the company? What 

constitutes discipline? 

13. What is a “roster” and how kept? 

14. Of whom does the Militia consist? 

15. Who are the proper officers to administer oaths in the admin¬ 

istration of the affairs of the Army? 




United States Military Service. 161 

16. To how many subjects may an official letter refer, and how 

will a letter be folded, who "briefs” it, and how? 

17. Who have power to place officers in arrest? 

18. What records are kept in a company? 

19. What is the company fund, who is the custodian of this fund, 

and how is it handled? 

20. Through what agencies is damaged property disposed of? 


INTERNATIONAL LAW (Davis). 


No. 

Page. 

Value. 


I 

2 

5 

Define "international law.” 

2 

20 

5 

From what principal sources is interna¬ 
tional law derived? 

3 

32 

10 

What is meant by “government,” and 
what kinds of government are there? 

4 

66 

10 

In what ways may a State acquire ter¬ 
ritory? 

5 

91 

15 

What is meant by the "perfect rights” of 
a State, and name the most important 
perfect rights? 

6 

no 

15 

What is the Monroe Doctrine? State its 
political principle. 

7 

157 

10 

Distinguish between "citizenship” and 
"domicile.” 

8 

250 

10 

How are questions of international law 
settled? Give proceedings, and define 
the different methods. 

9 

288 

10 

What is meant by the "laws of war,” and 
what are the principal subjects treated 
of by the laws of war? 

10 

395 

10 

What in general are the neutral duties of 
a State? 


162 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 


No. 

I 

Article. 

I., 

Sec. 8 

III., 

Value. 

IO 

What departments of government 
does the Constitution create? 

2 

15 

Name generally the powers vested in 
the Congress by the Constitution. 

3 

Sec. 3 

IV., 

5 

In what does treason consist? 

4 

Sec. 3 

5 

How may new States be formed, and 
under what restrictions? 

5 

V. 

5 

How may the Constitution be amend¬ 
ed? 

6 

VI. 

Amend. 

1 - 3-4 

5 

What does the Constitution declare to 
be "the supreme law of the land”? 

7 

7-14 

Amend. 

15 

What civil rights are guaranteed by 
the Constitution? 

8 

14-15 

I., Sec. 9 
III., Sec. 2-3 

15 

What political privileges are provided 
for by the Constitution? 

9 

Amend. 5-8 

I., Sec. 10 
Amend. 

15 

What protections are provided by the 
Constitution to persons accused of 
crime? 

10 

5 - 1.4 

10 

What protection does the Constitution 
give to contracts and property? 


EXAMINATION IN HISTORY. 

Value of each question, 5; total value, 100. 

GENERAL HISTORY. 

i. Of what great nations do we have the earliest authentic his¬ 
torical knowledge? Where were they located and of what 
races of men were they composed? What is the estimated 
antiquity of their civilization? 


United States Military Service. 163 

2. What great foreign wars first threatened Greek civilization? 

Give names of principal leaders on both sides, decisive bat¬ 
tles, and approximate dates. 

3. What were the “Punic Wars”? Give short description, with 

causes, approximate dates, leaders decisive battles, and 
results. 

4. What were the principal causes of the decline and fall of the 

Roman Empire? Give the principal events leading thereto, 
with approximate dates. 

5. Describe the feudal system. Give the causes which led to its 

development, the causes of its decay, and the great events 
leading thereto. 

6. What great events occurred in the latter part of the fifteenth 

century, A. D., which marked the close of medieval and the 
beginning of modern history? Give a description of these 
events, with approximate dates. 

7. What nation of Europe was most powerful in the early period 

of modern history? Who were its principal rulers and 
through what wars and decisive battles did it lose its pres¬ 
tige? Give approximate dates. 

8. What was the “Thirty Years’ War’’? Give its dates, causes, 

principal leaders, and results. 

9. Give a short sketch of the principal events in Europe from 

1789 to 1815. 

10. Give the principal wars of the world from the downfall of 
Napoleon to 1877, with dates, nations involved, causes, and 
results. 

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

1. Name the original settlements on the eastern coast of North 

America. When and by whom were they made? 

2. In what wars were the original Colonies involved? Give their 

causes, principal events, and results. 

3. What were the causes of the American Revolution? Explain 

fully the circumstances in each case. 

4. Give a summary of the Revolutionary War, with leaders, cam¬ 

paigns, and battles, with their dates and results. 


164 Aspirants for Commissions in the 

5. Describe the condition of the States at the close ot the Revo¬ 

lutionary War, their form of government, and the causes 
which led to the adoption of the Constitution. 

6. Give the causes of the War of 1812, or second war of inde-. 

pendence, its principal events, with dates and results. 

7. Vv'Eat were the causes of the Mexican War, its leaders, principal 

battles, with dates and results. 

8. What were the causes of the Civil War? Explain each in 

detail. 

9. Give a summary of the Civil War, with its principal battles, 

their dates and results, its leaders, and the results of the war. 

10. Give the limits of the original States and describe the territorial 
expansion of the country to its present limits, giving dates 
and circumstances of each territorial acquisition. 

EXAMINATION IN GEOGRAPHY. 

Value of each question, 5; total value, 100. 

1. Name the continents or grand divisions of the earth. Which 

are north of the Equator? Which south? The Equator 
crosses which? 

2. Name the oceans. Name the principal mountain ranges of 

the earth. 

3. Name the political divisions of Europe. 

4. Name the States which border the Gulf of Mexico. On the 

Atlantic Ocean. On the Pacific Ocean. 

5. Between what States does the Ohio River flow? The Missis¬ 

sippi? Where does the Mississippi River rise? 

6. By boat going from Duluth to Quebec, through what lakes, 

canals, locks, and rivers do you pass? 

7. Bound the State of Colorado. 

8. Name twelve of the principal cities of the United States, and 

name the States in which those given are situated. 

9. What States and countries would you traverse going by land 

from Chicago, Ill., to the Isthmus of Panama? 

10. Name six of the largest of the Philippine Islands, and the 

capital of those islands. 


United States Military Service. 165 

11. Name the political divisions of South America. 

12. Name the political divisions of North America. 

13. What bounds the United States on the north? On the south? 

14. Name the principal islands of the West Indies. 

15. Name the countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa which border 

on the Mediterranean Sea. 

16. Where are the Aleutian Islands? 

17. In what general direction does the Gulf Stream flow? The 

Japanese Current? 

18. Where is Hudson Bay? Bay of Fundy? Puget Sound? Gulf 

of Campeche? 

19. Where is Mount St. Elias? Pike’s Peak? Mount Rainier? 

Mount Chimborazo? 

20. Name three great rivers of South America and three of North 

America. Give source and waters into which each one flows. 


ENGLISH GRAMMAR. 

Value of question indicated after number. 


No. Value. 

1 5 

2 15 

3 5 

4 2.5 

5 2.5 


A. M. 

Give the principal parts (present indicative, past 
indicative, and past participle) of the following 
verbs: Seek, drink, shed, awake, go, shine, lay, 
thrust, slay, lie (to recline). 

Parse the following sentence: 

“Go tell the Spartans, thou that passest by, 
That here, obedient to her laws, we lie.” 

Give the plurals of the following nouns: Thief, 
child, sheep, index, datum, politics, cherub, genius, 
phenomenon, court-martial. 

State the gender of the following words and give 
the word of opposite gender (masculine or fem¬ 
inine) : Stag, executor, peacock, goose, doctor. 

Give the possessive case, singular and plural (if any), 
of the following nouns: Lady, conscience, ox, 
Charles, son-in-law. 



166 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


6 2 Give the inflections of the relative pronouns “who” 

and “which.” 

7 1.5 Give three sentences showing the use of “that” 

(i) as a relative pronoun, (2) as a demonstrative, 

(3) as a conjunction. 

8 15 Write the following paragraph, correcting errors in 

spelling and punctuation: 

Whether these unparreleled outrages furnish a sufishent plee 
to the spainards for there invasion. Whether we are content to 
find a warant for it in the naturel rites and demands of civilisation 
It is unecessary to discuss it is more materiel too enquire whether 
asuming the rite The conquest of mexico was conducted with a 
propper regard to the clames of humanity And hear we must admit 
that with all alowence for the ferosity of the age and the laksity of 
its principals There are pasages which every spainard who cherishes 
the faim of his countreymen would be glad to see expunged from 
there Historey pasages not too be vindicated on the score of self 
defense or off neccesity and which must leave a dark spot on the 
anals of the conquest the aztec monarky fell by its own sub jects 
under thee direction of uropeen sagasity and sience had it been 
united It might have biden defiens to the invaiders as it was the 
capitol Was disevered from the rest of the countrey And the bolt 
which might have past of comparitively harmles had the empire 
been semmented by a common principle of loyilty now found its 
weigh into every crack and ere vise of the ilcompacted fabrick and 
who shall lamment it’s fall 


EXAMINATION. 


No. Value. 
9 2 

10 2 


11 2 

12 15 


P. M. 

Give the general rule for the formation of the com¬ 
parative and superlative degrees of adjectives. 

Give the comparative and superlative forms (if any) 
of the following adjectives: well, outrageous, near, 
round. 

What is an auxiliary verb? Give five verbs of this class. 

Give a synopsis of the verb “to teach” in the second 
person plural of all the moods and tenses, act¬ 
ive and passive voices. (Use affirmative form of 
conjugation only.) 


13 2 

14 2 

15 1.5 


l6 20 


17 5 


United States Military Service. 167 

What parts of speech are modified by the adverb? 
Give examples. 

Give six pairs of correlative conjunctions. 

Give three short sentences showing the word “but”: 
(1) as a preposition; (2) as a conjunction; (3) as 
an adverb. 

Correct (if wrong) the following sentences, giving 
reasons in each case: 

(a) He feared the enemy might fall upon his men 

whom he saw were off their guard. 

( b) A bundle of papers was produced and such 

particulars as the following detailed. 

(c) It is easier said than done. 

(d) The insult was offered to my friend, he whom I 

loved as a brother. 

( e) Neither gold or silver are so useful as iron. 

(/) The doctor said in his lecture that fever always 
produced thirst. 

(g) His work is one of the best that has ever ap¬ 

peared. 

( h) I intended to have written you last week. 

{i ) I should prefer being right than being President. 
( j) Let the able-bodied fight and they that are 
feeble do guard duty at home. 

Analyze the following sentence: 

A soldier hardened to the exposures of campaign, 
will probably laugh when he sees the recruit that 
joined last week shivering on the river bank. 


No. Weight. 

1 IO 

2 IO 

3 IO- 

4 10 


EXAMINATION IN CHEMISTRY. 

Explain the difference between a chemical compound 
and a mechanical mixture. 

What are— 

(a) Acids? ( b )• Bases? (c) Salts? 

. What is meant by the atomic weight of an element? 
Given the equation— 

H 2 S 0 4 + Zn = ZnS 0 4 + H 2 . 

What is the valency of zinc? Of the radical S 0 4 ? 


i68 

Aspirants for Commissions in the 

No. Weight. 

5 io 

Assuming that the weight of the hydrogen gas lib¬ 
erated in the reaction expressed by the above 
equation was i gram, what was the weight of the 
zinc dissolved? Of the zinc sulphate formed? 

6 5 

The valency of barium is 2; what is its equivalent 
weight? 

7 io 

The valency of chlorine is 1. What is the weight of 
chlorine in 1 gram of barium chloride? 

8 5 

When 1 cubic foot of hydrogen combines with 3 
cubic feet of nitrogen, what volume of NH 3 is 
formed? 

9 io 

All nitrates are soluble in water and all carbonates, 
except those of alkalies, are insoluble in water. 

Write the equation to express the reaction, Ba(N 0 3 ) 2 
-f- K 2 C 0 3 = , the valency of potassium being 

1. If the weight of barium nitrate used in this 
reaction was 10 grams, what were the weights of 
new substances formed? 

IO 20 

Given CH4 -j- 2(0 2 -f- 4^ 2 ), £iir = C 0 2 2H 2 0 -j- 

4N 2 , and assuming the weight of 1 cubic foot of 
hydrogen to be 0.0057 pounds, how many cubic 
feet of air will be required to burn 10 pounds of 

ch 4 ? 


United States Military Service. 169 

„ table of atomic weights. 

[Report of Committee on Atomic Weights, American Chemical 
Society, 1902.] 


Aluminum _ 26.9 

Antimony _ 119.5 

Argon - 39.6 

Arsenic _ 74-45 

Barium _ 136.4 

Bismuth _ 206.5 

Boron _ 10.9 

Bromine _ 79-35 

Cadmium _ m.55 

Caesium _ 131.9 

Calcium _ 39-8 

Carbon _ 11.9 

Cerium _138.0 

Chlorine _ 35.18 

Chromium _ 517 

Cobalt - 58.55 

Columbium _ 93.0 

Copper - 63.1 

Erbium _ 164.7 

Fluorine _ 18.9 

Gadolinium _ 155.2 

Gallium _ 69.5 

Germanium _ 71.9 

Glucinum _ 9.0 

Gold - 195 -7 

Helium _ 3-93 

Hydrogen _ 1.000 

Indium _ 131 . 1 

Iodine _ 125.89 

Iridium _ 191.7 

Iron _ 55-5 

Krypton _ 81.15 

Lanthanum _ 137.6 

Lead _ 205.36 

Lithium _ 5-97 

Magnesium _ 24.1 

Manganese _ 54.6 

Mercury_198.50 

Molybdenum_95.3 


Neodymium _ 

- 142.5 

Neon. _ 


Nickel _ _ 

- 58.25 

Nitrogen___ 

- 13.93 

Osmium 

. _ .. 189.6 

Oxygen __ . 

_ 15.88 

Palladium 

. _ .106.2 

Phosphorus 

- 30.75 

Platinum __ 

-193.4 

Potassium 

_ 38.82 

Praseodymium _ . 

- 139.4 

Rhodium 

... . .102.2 

Rubidium 

- 84.75 

Ruthenium _ _ 

... ...100.9 

Samarium _ _ . 

-149. 2 ? 

Scandium _ _ 

_ 43-8 

Selenium__ . 

_ 78.6 

Silicon _. 

. 28.2 

Silver _ _ . 

.. 107.11 

Sodium__ _ . 

_ 22.88 

Strontium _ __ 

- 86.95 

Sulphur . 

- 31.83 

Tantalum. _ 

-181.5 

Tellurium . 

__126.1 

Terbium _ 

_158.8 

Thallium. ______ 


Thorium 

-230.8 

Thulinum _ _ 

-169.4 

Tin_ 

_118.1 

Titanium. 

- 47.8 

Tungsten _ _ 

_182.6 

Uranium 

-237.8 

Vanadium _ 

-510 

Xenon 

.127.0 

Ytterbium __ _ 

-171.9 

Yttrium. 

_ 88.3 

Zinc 

-64.9 

Zirconium__ 

-89.7 















































































170 


Aspirants for Commissions in the 


No. Weight. 

1 10 

2 15 


3 10 

4 20 


5 30 


6 15 


QUESTIONS ON ELECTRICITY. 

Name and define the electrical units of E. M. F., 
resistance, inductance, power, and energy. 

Give the expression for Ohm’s law as applied to an 
electrical circuit; as applied to part of an electrical 
circuit. 

Ten Ueclanche cells, each 1.4 volts and internal re¬ 
sistance of o_4 ohm, are arranged in parallel and 
are connected to an external resistance of 100 
ohms. What current will flow through the circuit? 

Name the materials of a cell to be used on closed 
circuit work; of one to be used on open circuit 
work. 

A motor whose back E. M. F. at its running speed 
is 100 volts is supplied from constant potential 
mains at no volts; the resistance through the 
motor between its terminals is 0.1 ohm. What 
current is the motor receiving? Assuming that 
nine-tenths of the electric power delivered to the 
motor is developed on the pulley, find the horse¬ 
power which is transmitted by this motor. 

Describe briefly and with diagram how to measure 
resistances under the following conditions: 

(a) Using ammeter and voltmeter. 

(&) Using a standard known resistance and a 
voltmeter. 

( c ) Using a Wheatstone bridge and galvano¬ 
meter. 

Illustrate each case by assuming data which would 
be obtained in an experiment for determining 
the resistance by each method and calculate the 
resistance for each set of data assumed. 

What is meant by an “induced current”? What is 
a p actic 1 method of obtain ng such a current? 
Upon what does the E. M. F. of an induced 
current depend? 


United States Military Service. 171 

QUESTIONS IN ELEMENTARY MECHANICS. 

No. Weight. 


1 5 

Define mechanics, matter, mass, physical quantity. 
In what three fundamental units may all physical 
quantities be expressed? What are the two sys¬ 
tems of units in general use for measuring physical 
quantities? Name the fundamental units in each 
of these systems. 

2 10 

Give the equation from which the distance passed 
over by a body in a given time may be obtained 
when it is traveling with a uniform velocity; il¬ 
lustrate by an example. Find the velocity at the 
end of four seconds of a b6dy which has a uni¬ 
form acceleration of 32 feet per second. Define 
angular velocity; illustrate by a diagram. 

3 15 

Define force; give the expression for the force which, 
acting on a body of mass M, would produce an 
acceleration A. If V be the velocity at any time, 
give the expression for the momentum of the body. 

What is the numerical expression for horsepower? 
(British units.) 

How many heat units correspond to 100 horsepower? 
(British system.) Give the general expression 
connecting heat and work units; explain what 
each factor of the expression is. 

4 10 

Find the resultant in intensity and direction of the 
forces whose directions and intensities are given 
in the lines below. 

[See diagram.] 

When is a system of forces in equilibrium? Illus¬ 
trate by diagram. 

5 10 

LL is a needle free to rotate in a horizontal plane 
about the point P. F and F' are the forces act¬ 
ing upon it. Is the needle at rest for its present 
position? If not, show position for equilibrium; 
give the expression for the moment of each force 
tending to produce rotation from the present 
position. 

[See diagram.] 


172 


Aspirants for Commissions. 


QUESTIONS IN ELEMENTARY MECHANICS— Continued. 

No. Weight. 

6 io Make a diagram illustrating the principle of the 

hydraulic jack and explain it. Assume data and 
illustrate the application of the principle in lifting 
heavy weights. 

7 io A body falls freely from a height of 320 feet. As¬ 

sume g = 32. With what velocity will it strike 
the ground? What is its acceleration when 20 feet 
from the ground? What is the time occupied in 
falling the distance, 320 feet? 

8 10 A well 100 feet deep and 10 feet in diameter is full 

of water. How much work is done if the well is 
pumped dry, the water being discharged at the 
surface with a velocity of 32 feet per second? 
Assume g = 32 and 1 cubic foot of water = 63 
pounds. 

9 10 A car runs upon a level circular track with its 

center of gravity 4 feet higher than the top of 
the rails, the width of the track being 4 feet and 
the radius of curvature 481 feet. What is the 
limit of speed of the car to avoid overturning? 

10 10 The weight of a sphere 2 feet in diameter is 1,000 

pounds. It is suspended by a rope and wholly 
immersed in water. Find the tension on the cord 
and the specific gravity of the body. 












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































